§ Mr. ANDERSON (by Private Notice)asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has received a signed request by over 100 Members asking for a day to discuss the food problem, and whether it is the intention of the Government to grant this request?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWThe answer is in the affirmative. I shall try to arrange a day for this discussion before the end of the Session.
§ Mr. ASQUITHWill the Leader of the House state the business for next week?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWOn Monday, the first Order will be the Coal Mines Control Bill. We hope to take also the Second Reading of the Non-Ferrous Metal Industry Bill and the Imports and Exports (Temporary Control) Bill.
On Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, the Representation of the People Bill.
§ Mr. LOUGHHas the right hon. Gentleman noticed the great interest taken and hostility displayed throughout the country to the two Bills he has mentioned, and could he give a little further time to, if not postpone till next Session, the Second Reading of those Bills, which deal with matters which will arise after the conclusion of the War?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWI am glad to learn that there is a great deal of interest taken in them, but that is not a reason for postponement. I am not so sure of the hostility, and I cannot promise to postpone them. As regards the question of the hon. Gentleman (Mr. Lambert), I cannot answer that at present.
§ Mr. PRINGLEWhen will the Report stage of the Estimate for the War Aims Committee be taken?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWIf the hon. Member had been here at Question Time he would know that I answered a question on that subject.
§ Colonel SHARMAN-CRAWFORDWill the Schedules under the Irish redistribution scheme be taken next week?
§ Sir G. CAVEWe propose to take the Motion to recommit the Bill on that and 2262 another subject on Tuesday, and proceed at once with the Committee stage.
§ Sir J. LONSDALEWhen will the Report of the Boundary Commission be presented?
§ Sir G. CAVEI expect to receive it to-day or to-morrow, and will circulate it at once.
§ Mr. WHITEHOUSEWill the recommittal Order deal also with the Clause relating to the alternative vote?
§ Sir G. CAVEThat is not proposed.
§ Sir G. CAVEI think not.
§ Mr. ANDERSONHas the Government considered the very absurd position in which this House has been placed by the various decisions given in regard to the alternative vote? Is it not proposed to find some way out of the difficulty, and if so, what way?
§ Sir G. CAVEThat is a matter which can be dealt with in the Debate on the Motion to recommit.
Mr. D. WHITEAs the proposal is to recommit the Bill in respect of certain particular features, will the right hon. Gentleman put the Motion for recommital on the Paper in time for any Amendments to be put down before it comes on for consideration?
§ Sir G. CAVEIt will be put down to-day.
§ Mr. MOONEYWill the Motion to recommit be only in respect of the Irish portion of the Bill, or does the right hon. Gentleman intend to recommit the whole of the Bill and to have a general discussion?
§ Sir G. CAVEI thought I had made it clear. The question how to deal with the alternative vote can be raised on the Motion to recommit the Bill in respect to certain things. We propose to put down a Motion to recommit in respect of two matters, namely, the Sub-section relating to conscientious objectors and the question of the Irish redistribution.
§ Mr. WHITEHOUSEDoes the right hon. Gentleman himself propose, or does the Government propose, to take any action in regard to the present position of the alternative vote?
Mr. HEALYIn view of what the right hon. Gentleman has stated, may I ask you, Mr. Speaker, whether, if the Motion to recommit is carried on Tuesday, it will be possible to take the Committee stage on the same day, and, if so, how do Members stand who desire to put down Amendments to any proposal which the Government propose to make in Committee?
§ Mr. SPEAKERIf the House decides to recommit on Tuesday, of course the Committee stage will be resumed. I understand that the first question to be discussed will be the position of the conscientious objectors. That will occupy some little time. During that time there will be opportunity to hand in such Amendments as hon. Members wish to move at a later stage.
Mr. H. SAMUELCan Amendments be put down in advance, as soon as the Motion for recommital appears on the Paper?
Mr. HEALYDoes it follow that, if the whole matter is concluded on Tuesday, the only opportunity of putting down Amendments will be by way of manuscript Amendments, so that hon. Members cannot see them on the Paper?
§ Mr. SPEAKERIt is hardly possible to conceive that the whole matter will be concluded on Tuesday. The Government have allowed two days for it. The probability is that it will go on over Tuesday. The moment the House gets into Committee there will be an opportunity of handing in manuscript Amendments.
§ Mr. ASQUITHSuppose a Motion is made to recommit the Bill in respect of certain specified matters, will it not be in order upon that Motion to move an Amendment to recommit the Bill in respect of others matters?
§ Mr. SPEAKERCertainly.
§ Mr. MOONEYAs the Irish Members have been denied any opportunity of discussing this matter on Second Reading, is it now proposed to further curtail our right, and to have the Motion for recommital and the Committee stage on the same day? Is it not the invariable practice of this House, in the case of recommital, that unless there is general consent the Committee stage must stand over until the next day?
§ Sir G. CAVEAs the hon. Member knows—or he can find out by consulting 2264 members of his own party—we have endeavoured to meet in every way the convenience of Irish Members in this matter. I have never contemplated, and the Government do not contemplate, that the Committee stage upon the Irish Clauses will be taken on Tuesday. We hope to conclude the Motion to recommit on Tuesday, and, if possible, the discussion on the Subsection relating to conscientious objectors. I can say now that we will not take the Committee stage of the Irish matter before Wednesday. That will give the hon. Gentleman an opportunity of putting down Amendments.
§ Colonel SHARMAN-CRAWFORDAs I understand the Report of the Irish Boundary Commissioners is actually in print, it would be a great convenience to Irish Members before they went away if that Paper could be circulated to-day.
§ Sir G. CAVEIt will probably be distributed to-morrow. Great expedition has been used.
Ordered, "That the Proceedings on the Representation of the People Bill, if under discussion at Eleven of the clock this night, be not interrupted under the Standing Order (Sittings of the House)."—[Mr. Bonar Law.]