§ Mr. BONAR LAWMay I ask the Prime Minister what business is to be taken next week; whether he can tell us what business will be taken after Eleven o'clock on Monday, and whether he intends to ask the House to sit late to-morrow?
§ The PRIME MINISTERWe do not propose to ask the House to sit after Five o'clock to-morrow. With regard to the business for next week, we shall take on
Monday: Scottish Estimates, the Education Vote being first considered;
Tuesday and Wednesday: The Insurance Bill, Report stage;
Thursday: The India Budget;
Friday: The Wireless Telegraphy Contract.
On each night we shall also take some smaller orders. I do not know whether the right hon. Gentleman wants to know what those smaller orders are?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWIt would be a convenience if Members could know before they go away what is to be taken on Monday.
§ The PRIME MINISTERWe hope to take to-night: Industrial and Provident Societies (Amendment) Bill (Second Reading); Telegraph [Money] (Committee); Foreign Jurisdiction Bill (Second Reading); Post Office Bill (Committee). Any of those which are not taken to-night will certainly be taken on Monday.
§ Mr. WHELERWhen does the right hon. Gentleman propose to take the Committee stage of the Revenue Bill?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI hope soon. I cannot say exactly when.
§ Mr. T. M. HEALYWill the Report of the Irish Medical Benefits Committee be circulated before the Insurance Bill is taken? Some very important changes with regard to Ireland have been made in the Bill in Committee.
§ The PRIME MINISTERPerhaps the hon. Gentleman will give me notice of that. I am not familiar with the facts.
§ Lord ROBERT CECILCan the right hon. Gentleman say when the Education Bill will be taken?
§ The PRIME MINISTERNo.
§ Lord HUGH CECILNot after Eleven o'clock?
§ The PRIME MINISTERNo.
§ Lord ROBERT CECILHas the right hon. Gentleman decided to publish any part of the correspondence on the Marconi Contract presented to the Committee upstairs?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI circulated the answer yesterday.
§ Lord ROBERT CECILIt has not reached me.
§ The PRIME MINISTERIt was circulated with the Votes. I can repeat the substance of it. I put myself in communication with the heads of the various Departments, and I was advised by them that, although in regard to a great part of the correspondence, there would be no objection whatever to publication, there were passages of a confidential character communicated to the Committee which they did not think it would be in the public interest to divulge.
§ Lord ROBERT CECILCan the right hon. Gentleman see his way to publish so much of the correspondence as he thinks could be published without detriment to the public interest? It is very difficult for the House to discuss the question without that correspondence.
§ The PRIME MINISTERI hesitate to undertake that. But I am very anxious that the House should be in possession of all the material facts. If the Noble Lord will make a communication to me privately of what he thinks could or could not be published, I will consider it.
§ Mr. HAROLD SMITHCould not each Department concerned produce such parts of the correspondence as they think could be published without objection
§ The PRIME MINISTERThat is rather a delicate duty which I do not feel disposed to place upon the Departments concerned.
§ Sir F. BANBURYThe right hon. Gentleman mentioned the Industrial and Provident Societies Bill. When he was announcing the Bills which he proposed to take, and those which he proposed to drop, he included this Bill amongst those which were doubtful, and in regard to which he was anxious if possible to come 759 to some arrangement. I trust that if an arrangement is impossible, the right hon. Gentleman will not force the House to sit up late at night to take a measure which may be controversial.
§ The PRIME MINISTERThe hon. Gentleman is quite right. I did express the hope that arrangements would be come to before the Second Reading, because, after all, there are a number of Clauses which are universally accepted.
§ Sir F. BANBURYMay I ask the right hon. Gentleman another question? Did I gather that he stated that he was going to take the further stages of the Finance Bill?
§ The PRIME MINISTERWe will take the Revenue Bill first.
Sir GILBERT PARKERIn relation to the Industrial and Provident Societies (Amendment) Bill, the Prime Minister will remember that I asked him a question as to the differences of opinion of the various interests concerned. The Prime Minister held out the hope that if those differences of opinion were not composed before the Second Reading took place, that he would consider proceeding further with the Bill. May I assume that those differences have been composed?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI cannot say; but I hope that in the course of Debate we shall have that point made clear, and that we shall learn that at any rate an attempt has been made to compose them so that the Bill may be passed.