§ Mr. ADAMSONMay I ask the Home Secretary what is the business to be taken to-day; and is it intended to take the Motion for Adjournment on Tuesday? Can the right hon. Gentleman also state whether the Prime Minister will be in a position to make a statement to the House before the Adjournment?
§ The SECRETARY of STATE for the HOME DEPARTMENT (Mr. Shortt)The Adjournment will take place on Wednesday instead of Tuesday. The Prime Minister hopes to return on Tuesday, and to make a statement to the House on the Motion for Adjournment on Wednesday. In these circumstances, on Tuesday the Second Reading of the Aliens Restriction Bill will be taken.
§ Mr. ADAMSONWhat about the business for to-day?
§ Lord EDMUND TALBOT (Joint Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury)We propose to take the first four Orders on the Paper:
Acquisition of Land (Assessment of Compensation) Bill—Second Reading; 2235 Scottish Board of Health Bill—As amended, to be considered; Public Health (Medical Treatment of Children) (Ireland) Bill—As amended, to be considered; and the Education (Scotland) (Superannuation) Bill—As amended, to be considered.
We also propose to take the Financial Resolution on Order 6, Housing, Town Planning, etc.
§ Sir DONALD MACLEANI hope that my right hon. Friend will not insist upon Attempting to take the Report stage of the Scottish Board of Health Bill. That Bill only finished its Committee stage yesterday, and has not been yet reprinted for use on Report. There are some very important Amendments to be put forward, and it would really be a serious restriction of our opportunities to amend that Bill if its consideration were forced to-night.
§ The SECRETARY for SCOTLAND (Mr. Munro)I should like to put it to my right hon. Friend that if the discussion on the Acquisition of Land Bill ends at a reasonably early hour I hope he will not press the Government not to go on to the Report stage of the Scottish Health Bill. In putting it down on the Paper I did so after I had approached many of my Scottish colleagues on the subject. The Bill has been fully discussed in Committee, and the Amendments are very few. I know no Amendment which any hon. Member desires to put down except those which my right hon. Friend opposite has consulted me about. I really think the opportunity is so valuable that it ought not to be thrown away; and I would appeal to my right hon. Friend not to press the matter until we see what progress is made with the other business.
§ Sir D. MACLEANI am sorry, but I must press the matter. My right hon. Friend knows that there are at least three very important Committees sitting. Members are scattered over those Committees, and no longer have the opportunity of concentrating their attention on these very important Bills. I should very, very strongly object to this measure being taken any further to-night.
Sir H. DALZIELMay I ask the Parliamentary Secretary whether the only measure for Tuesday will be the Aliens Bill?
§ Lord E. TALBOTMuch depends on what may be left over. We shall probably suspend the Eleven o'clock Rule to finish outstanding business.
§
Ordered,
That the Proceedings on Government Business be exempted at this day's Sitting from the provisions of the Standing Order (Sittings of the House)."—[Lord E. Talbot.]