§ Mr. BONAR LAWMay I ask the Prime Minister whether he can give us any information as to the course of business?
§ The PRIME MINISTERBefore I deal with next week, perhaps I had better deal generally with the time before us. I will first state the Bills we must pass before the Session comes to an end. This list includes some Bills that have already passed this House, and are now in the other House. In addition to the National 594 Insurance Bill there are the Finance Bill—[HON. MEMBERS: "Hear, hear."]—that will relieve the apprehensions of hon. Gentlemen opposite—the Coal Mines Bill, the Naval Prize Bill, the Merchant Shipping Bill, the Burgh Police (Scotland) Amendment Bill, the Resident Magistrates (Belfast) Bill, and, I hope, the Second Peace Conference (Conventions) Bill, which have all got to go to the House of Lords after they have passed this House. Further, we hope to pass into law the following Bills which have already passed the House of Lords: the Lunacy Bill Maritime Conventions Bill, Smallholdings and Allotments Bill, and, I trust, the Appellate Jurisdiction Bill, which was promised at the Imperial Conference to the representatives of the Dominions, and in addition the Military Manœuvres Bill, which is at present under discussion in the Lords, and will be here shortly.
There is one other measure which will require rather special treatment—the Shops Bill. A great deal of time and labour has been spent in Committee on this Bill which we think it a pity should be wholly wasted; and, in view of the length of the Bill and the controversial character of some of its provisions, it will clearly not be possible to pass the whole of it. But there are two portions—the compulsory weekly half-holiday and the provision of meal hours—which I understand are practically agreed to in all parts of the House. These two portions we shall proceed with, if we are assured they can be passed with the consent of the House in the course of a few hours. The First Lord of the Admiralty will give a further explanation on that point if it be desired.
The limited time at our disposal makes it impossible to proceed with the other Government Bills on the Paper. Therefore we shall drop the measures which I am about to enumerate. First, the Trade-Unions (No. 2) Bill, which I much regret the exigencies of time will not allow us in this Session to proceed further with. Agricultural Credit and Insurance Society Bill, Health Visitors Bill, Dublin Police Bill, Education (Schools and Continuation Class Attendance) Bill, Aliens (Prevention of Crime) Bill, Public Health (Acquisition of Water) Bill, Dublin Parliamentary Revising Bill, Pilotage Bill, Expenses of Aid to Police Bill, and County Courts Bill. These are all dropped. We have received representations from unofficial Members 595 about Bills in which they are interested. Unfortunately we find on inquiry that none of these can be regarded as entirely non-controversial, therefore, I am very sorry we cannot find time to give facilities for them.
We hope, also, after we have passed our necessary measures, to find time in the week after next for the continuation of the Debate on Foreign Policy, and for the discussion of the Motion on the appointment of magistrates. We hope all the necessary work which this House has to undertake, which I have now outlined, will be completed by Friday, 15th December. The length of the Session after that will depend on the progress made by the other House with the measures which are before them, and their reconsideration here. Next week's business will be as follows:—
§ On Monday, we shall complete the Report stage of the Insurance Bill.
§ On Tuesday, we hope to conclude the Mines Bill and the Naval Prize Bill.
§ On Wednesday, the Third Reading of the Insurance Bill will be taken.
§ On Thursday, the Committee stage of the Finance Bill will be taken.
§ On Friday, we shall take the Shops Bill if we can be assured that those parts which we hope to pass can be concluded on that day.
§ I may add, for the general convenience of the House, and in reply to numerous inquiries, that our present anticipation is that the next Session will begin on Tuesday, 13th February.
§ Mr. BONAR LAWAs regards the Shops Bill, I should like to ask whether it would not be possible to issue a White Paper showing exactly what it is proposed to do.
§ The PRIME MINISTERThat is a most reasonable request.
§ Mr. RAMSAY MACDONALDAm I to understand that the Trade Unions (No. 2) Bill is only meant to be withdrawn for this Session, and that the right hon. Gentleman anticipates its re-introduction next Session?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI hope so.
§ Mr. HARRY LAWSONMay I ask the First Lord of the Admiralty when we shall have the proposed Amendments to the Shops Bill in our hands?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLI am rather doubtful whether the word "Amendments" really covers the case, because there is no doubt whatever that it has become necessary, if legislation is to go forward at all on the subject, to drop the greater part of the Bill. The whole of the Sunday Clauses will be dropped, and the whole of the attempt to regulate the daily hours of labour of shop assistants must be dropped. It is not my fault. I can assure hon. Gentlemen below the Gangway that it is with the very deepest regret that I have felt myself compelled to submit to what is undoubtedly the loss of a portion of the measure to which great importance will be attached in many quarters, but we can, I think, secure certain parts of the Bill which will be a real benefit to the large class who are interested in it. There is first of all the compulsory half-holiday for shop assistants and shopkeepers, and that gives equal relief to the shop assistant and the shopkeeper. It was put in in the Grand Committee, I think, unanimously, and the Clause, I believe, is found to meet all the different views which have been expressed. That affects at least two millions of people. Then there is the question of the meal time, and I trust the House will consider the bearing which that has, not merely on the comfort and convenience of that great body of people whose case Parliament has repeatedly endeavoured to deal with, but also on their health. There are some provisions which will depend entirely on the progress of business on the day when we discuss the Bill connected with the improved facilities for voluntary early closing. I do not propose to go on with these unless the House is in the mood to dispose of them by agreement.
§ Mr. HARRY LAWSONThey are not in the Bill now.
§ Mr. CHURCHILLYes, they are in the Bill now. Efforts will be made to work up the early closing movement and give a proper impulse to it in the different cities throughout the country. I do not propose to press that at all unless I shall get a practically unanimous decision. I am having, by the assistance and courtesy of the Home Secretary, two Bills prepared, one the Bill as it left Grand Committee with everything that is to be dropped cut out, and the second showing what is left—the actual provisions which I trust the House will assent to.
§ Mr. BONAR LAWWhen will they be printed?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLThey are being printed as quickly as they can possibly be. They will be ready early next week.
§ Mr. KEIR HARDIEHas the Prime Minister's attention been called to the notice which appears in the Parliamentary Papers this morning dealing with the use of troops during the recent railway dispute, and can a day be given for the discussion of that matter, and is that still an open question in his mind?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI am afraid, within the limits of time which I have indicated, it will not be possible, but it can be raised on the Address next year.
§ Mr. LOUGHMay I remind the right hon. Gentleman of the promise he made to consider representations which would be made to him with regard to giving a little time to the Brussels Sugar Convention? Does he still see his way to consider representations which may be made?
§ The PRIME MINISTERYes, I will consider any representations which may be made, but I have promised a day for the continuation of the Debate on Foreign Policy, and I hope the question may be raised then.
§ Mr. LOUGHIt could not be raised satisfactorily. We do not want to give an adverse decision on Foreign Policy. This is quite a separate point.
§ 4.0 P.M.
§ Mr. GRETTONMay I ask the Prime Minister how much time he proposes to give this Session to the consideration of the Finance Bill?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI hope that will be a matter of arrangement between both sides of the House.
§ Mr. HOAREMay I ask the Prime Minister whether his attention has been called to a small measure entitled Employment of Children Act (1903) Amendment Bill, in regard to which there is a general feeling of agreement, and whether he will reconsider his decision with the view of including it in the Bills mentioned as those to be proceeded with this Session?
§ Mr. T. E. HARVEYI am sure many Members of the House would welcome the passing of that Bill, which would not take up a great deal of time.
§ The PRIME MINISTERSo far as I am concerned, I am, and, indeed, I may say the Government, are in hearty sympathy with the Bill; but I am afraid it cannot be treated as non-controversial, because there is always a vigilant spectator of our proceedings in the hon. Baronet the Member for the City of London (Sir Frederick Banbury).
§ Mr. JOYNSON-HICKSMay I ask whether the right hon. Gentleman is aware that the Lunacy Bill is a non-controversial measure, and whether he will give time to that?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI do not think that is so in the least, but we shall see.
§ Sir W. BYLESMay I ask the First Lord of the Admiralty in regard to the Shops Bill whether the main object of the measure was not to limit the hours of shop assistants; whether the pressure from the outside was not entirely or mainly directed to that object; whether there was really any serious opposition to the limitation to the week of sixty hours which was passed in Committee; and whether he cannot possibly hope to enact that portion of the Bill on the Friday that is to be allotted to it?
Mr. POINTERBefore the right hon. Gentleman replies, may I ask whether any measure can be called non-controversial in the eyes of the Labour party when the main provisions are to be left out?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLWe are governed by limitations of time. It is open to any hon. Gentleman who has reflected on the statement which the Prime Minister has made to see how rigid these limitations are at this period of the Session. I have done the best I could under the circumstances to save what I am sure will be of real advantage. I hope hon. Gentlemen who share with me the regret at the dropping of the sixty hours' week limitation will not for that reason withdraw their help and support in trying to secure what is equally, or certainly not less, desired. After all, my hon. Friend (Sir W. Byles) did not give us much help in Committee.
§ Sir W. BYLESOn the sixty hours' week I gave all the assistance I could.
§ Mr. SNOWDENMay I ask the Prime Minister why the Government cannot adopt the same course with this Bill as they have adopted with the Insurance Bill and closure all discussion on Report?
§ Mr. FORSTERMay I ask the Prime Minister if he proposes to move the Motion that stands in his name as to "Business of the House (National Insurance Bill) (Allocation of Time)"?
§ The PRIME MINISTERYes, Sir. The Chancellor of the Exchequer will move it.
§ Mr. FORSTERWhen?
§ The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER (Mr. Lloyd George)Immediately after the adjournment of the Debate on the Insurance Bill to-night.
§ Mr. FORSTERAre we to proceed to discuss the reallocation of time Motion at that hour?
§ Mr. LLOYD GEORGEI do not think it will be necessary to go into the small hours of the morning. We generally adjourn the discussion on the Insurance Bill about half-past ten. The Motion proposes a very small re-allocation of time which has been pressed upon us from every quarter of the House. It is for the convenience of the whole House that we are making the proposal.
§ Mr. HAROLD SMITHI wish to ask the right hon. Gentleman if, as a matter of fact, we should find ourselves discussing Amendments to the Insurance Bill up to the small hours of the morning, he will then persist in moving the Motion at that time.
§ Mr. LLOYD GEORGEI think as it is the view of a very considerable number of Members of the House that we should make sure of a discussion upon Schedule II. we should proceed with the Motion at whatever time the discussion commences.