§ Colonel LOCKWOODMay I ask the Prime Minister what business he proposes to take to-morrow?
§ Mr. DILLONBefore the right hon. Gentleman answers, may I ask him whether the time has not now come to consider the advisability of sitting for five days out of seven and of winding up the business of these sittings?
§ The PRIME MINISTERTomorrow we shall take Money Resolutions on War Obligations and on the Board of Pensions Bill.
I think I shall have to ask the House to sit on Monday, to take the Committee stage of the Board of Pensions Bill.
§ Colonel LOCKWOODMay I ask the business for Tuesday and Wednesday of next week?
§ The PRIME MINISTERTomorrow.
§ Mr. HOGGEI suppose the right hon. Gentleman is making arrangements so that the Pensions Bill will go through both Houses before the Recess?
Commander BELLA IRSMay I ask the Prime Minister whether his refusal to give a day for a Secret Session is definite and final, because otherwise we are forced to discuss matters which we would rather discuss in secret?
§ The PRIME MINISTERNo, Sir, I did not say it was definite or final. On the contrary, I invited an expression of opinion as to whether it was the general desire of the House to have it.
§ Mr. BOOTHMay I ask for the guidance of the House whether the Government will be in a position in open Session to give us that candid statement of the facts of their requirements which they might give us in private, and whether my right hon. Friend can undertake that he will make as full a statement if the Session is in public as he would if it were in private?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI think my answer, provisionally, is in the affirmative.
§ Mr. HOGGEIs the right hon. Gentleman aware, when he said if we would give 1448 names, that he has not consulted a great many Members of the House who are in favour of a Secret Session?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI am accessible to information from all quarters.
§ Mr. HOUSTONWill the right hon. Gentleman consider the question of Ministers meeting Members, say, in the large Committee Room upstairs in the same manner as they met members of the Press, and it would get over the difficulty of the Secret Session?