§ Order for Committee read.
§ Motion made, and Question proposed, "That this House will resolve itself into the said Committee upon Tuesday next, at Two of the clock."
§ MR. COURTNEYsaid, he wished very much to oppose this 2 o'clock Sitting. It was quite true that the Chancellor of the Exchequer had made a suggestion on the previous day, that it might be convenient to have an Afternoon Sitting and to resume at 9 o'clock; but no other announcement was made, and he was not aware anything had been done since, in pursuance of that hint till this Motion, although, he believed, something had been said to several hon. Members privately. On the subject of the convenience of a day 1941 debate, he was very much in favour of a continuous Sitting; and he begged to propose as an Amendment, that the words at 2 o'clock be omitted.
§ Amendment proposed, to leave out the words at Two of the clock."—(Mr. Courtney.)
§ Question proposed, "That the words 'at Two of the clock' stand part of the Question."
§ THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUERreplied, that a suggestion was made that it was thought they would gain time in that way; and he believed, from what he had heard, that a great many hon. Members interested in the Bill would find it convenient to take a discussion on the Bill and the first series of Amendments moved on the Motion that the Chairman do leave the Chair in the Morning Sitting, and then they might be able to make progress in the Committee in the evening. He did not himself see any disadvantage in the arrangement. He thought it would be convenient to many hon. Members.
§ Question put.
§ The House divided:—Ayes 70; Noes 2: Majority 68.—(Div. List, No. 202.)
§ Main Question put, and agreed to.
§ Resolved, That this House will resolve itself into the said Committee upon Tuesday next, at Two of the clock.