§ Sir F. BANBURYMay I ask the Leader of the House whether it is the intention of the Government to take the Second Reading of the War Emergency Laws (Continuance) Bill after ten o'clock to-night?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWIf there be an opportunity we shall try to do so.
§ Sir F. BANBURYIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that this Bill was only printed this morning, and that there will be very considerable opposition to it; and will he, in view of that fact, postpone taking the Second Reading till Members have had an opportunity of reading the Bill, which is of a very far-reaching cha- 36 racter, and which, I venture to say, will be unpopular with every Member of the House?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWThere really is no intention to try and force the Bill through to-night. If there should be any serious opposition to it, we should not take it.
Sir H. DALZIELMay I inquire if there is any intention of making a statement as to whether or not the House is going to adjourn for a period this afternoon; and also can the right hon. Gentleman tell us, at the same time, when the House will rise next week?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWThe first question is, I think, one for you, Mr. Speaker. There is not any action being taken by the Government in the matter. As to the time of the House rising next week, I am sorry it is impossible as yet to give any definite date.
§ Captain ORMSBY-GOREMay I ask the Leader of the House whether it is his intention to take the Second Reading of the new Welsh Church Bill to-morrow afternoon, seeing that it is not yet printed and not in the hands of the Members, and, consequently, that we have not had an opportunity of seeing or considering it, and also seeing that the right hon. Gentleman did not on Thursday announce that he was going to take it?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWI have considered that. I do not think it would be reasonable to take it on the date in question. It will be taken on Wednesday if there is time.
§ Sir DONALD MACLEANin view of the general desire of the House to view the River Pageant this afternoon, may I respectfully ask you, Sir, whether you have any suggestion to make to the House to meet that desire?
§ Mr. SPEAKERThe House will, no doubt, be desirous of doing what it can to salute the representatives of the Mercantile Marine as they pass. Probably it will be best if I quite informally suspend the sitting of the House for a reasonable interval. I therefore, propose to leave the Chair at four o'clock. When I resume the Chair I shall have the. bells rung, so that hon. Members may be aware of the fact.
§ Sir D. MACLEANMay I ask the Leader of the House if he will be kind enough to tell us what procedure it is 37 intended to follow on. Wednesday on the Vote of Thanks to the Army, Navy, and Air Forces?
§ Lord HUGH CECILMay we also know what are the other Orders the right hon. Gentleman means to take on Wednesday?
§ Mr. G. TERRELLDo the Government propose to take any action in regard to the Report of the Select Committee on Transport in the Metropolitan area?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWAs I said last week, the later matter is being examined by the Departments. We hope to be able to do something with it before the House adjourns, but I cannot say definitely.
Sir F. HALLHas my right hon. Friend communicated with the Departments which the Report is rather criticising?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWThe Government, naturally, must communicate with the Departments. As regards the procedure on Wednesday, it will be as follows: The Motion of Thanks, which will be put on the Order Paper to-morrow morning, will be moved, and, in addition to thanks to our own troops, a Motion will be made expressing the thanks of the House to Field-Marshal Foch, who commanded the British troops.
On Tuesday (to-morrow) the Prime Minister will hand in a Message signed by the King, recommending certain Grants, and this Message will be read, I understand, by you, Mr. Speaker, as usual.
On Wednesday, immediately after the Vote of Thanks, the consideration of the Grants will be taken in Committee.
§ Captain W. BENNWould the right hon. Gentleman say when the Welsh Church Bill will be printed?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWIt will be available to-morrow.
§ Captain BENNAnd taken on Wednesday?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWYes.
Lieut.-Colonel MURRAYMay I ask whether, in leaving the Chair this afternoon, Mr. Speaker, you will bring a Motion before the House, and, further, for what period do you propose to leave the Chair?
§ Mr. SPEAKERIt will all depend upon time and tide!
§ Lord H. CECILWhat business is to be taken after the Vote of Thanks and the Grants on Wednesday?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWI think probably the Welsh Church Bill will be the third Order, but I will state to-morrow.
§ Mr. MacVEAGHWhat is the urgency attaching to the Welsh Church Bill?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWThat will be discovered better when the Bill is discussed.
§ Mr. MacVEAGHBut some of us would like to discover it now!
§ Sir D. MACLEANWill the right hon. Gentleman bear in mind that the terms of that Bill may be very highly controversial—I do not know, but I assume so, though perhaps not? I am sure the House would not really like, after the Vote of Thanks—in which we all can join—to go at once to a very highly-controversial measure, and I suggest that that Bill should not be put down for that day.
§ Mr. BONAR LAWI am sure my right hon. Friend will agree that it is impossible for me to foresee the extent of controversy in connection with any Bill. In any case we must get on with the business, and the business of the Vote of Thanks will be completed and done with before the other measure arises.
§ Commander BELLAIRSIn reference to what the right hon. Gentleman has said about the Votes of Thanks and the Grants, may I ask when the sanction of the House will be asked for for these Grants?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWThat was given in my answer. The House will go into Committee immediately after the Votes of Thanks, and then the sanction of the House will be asked.
§ Sir J. REMNANTI have not consulted with my Friends in the House, but I would like to ask whether it would be possible on the Vote of Thanks on Wednesday, by Amendment or otherwise, to add the name of our Prime Minister? It has been suggested that we should move a Vote of Thanks to Marshal Foch. I do not suppose it was intended to vote him a Grant, but I believe that there are a large number of hon. Members of this House who would be glad of some way by which the House of Commons itself can show its appreciation of all the Prime Minister has done during 39 these trying times. Could I move to add his name by way of an Amendment to the Vote of Thanks?
§ Mr. SPEAKERAny Resolution proposed from the Chair is always open to Amendment.
§ Mr. BONAR LAWI think it is only right to say that the suggestion of my hon. Friend has been put forward by a number of people to myself. I simply mentioned it to the Prime Minister, and he said that he would not dream of it.
§ Sir J. REMNANTI was not thinking of a Grant; I was anxious to show some expression of thanks to him for what he has done
§ Commander BELLAIRSMay I say that it would be entirely against precedent to introduce the Prime Minister's name in connection with a Vote of Thanks to the Services?
Lieut.-Colonel MURRAYIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that there is considerable dissatisfaction with regard to the procedure this afternoon amongst Scottish Members?
§ Mr. SPEAKERThat question can be raised when we get to Supply.
§ Mr. STURROCKCan we have any indication when the House will resume its Sitting this afternoon?
§ Mr. SPEAKERThe bells will be rung, and they can be heard all over the House.
§ Mr. STURROCKWill they ring before ten o'clock?