HC Deb 23 July 1919 vol 118 cc1411-5

Motion made, and Question proposed, That the Third Heading of the Finance Bill may be taken immediately after the Consideration of the Bill, as amended, notwithstanding the practice of the House as to the interval between the various stages of a Bill relating to finance."—[Mr. Bonar Law.]

Sir D. MACLEAN

This Motion has been put on the Paper by agreement between the Chancellor of the Exchequer and those who sit on the Front Opposition Bench. I should not like it to pass without saying, first of all, that the right hon. Gentleman will agree with me that while the Opposition has been vigorous in its criticism, we have not in any way been obstructive. He will also agree that this is an unusual Motion. It often happens with other Bills, but on a Finance Bill it is very unusual. I wish to place it on record that we have agreed to it now because of the altogether exceptional circumstances in which the House finds itself in regard to business. The vacation is rapidly approaching and an immense amount of very important business has to be put through, and it is only because of that that we have assented to the Motion.

Mr. CHAMBERLAIN

I rise to respond to the appeal of the right hon. Gentleman and to say I agree with him that the procedure which we are following to-day, though not unknown, is exceptional and should be abnormal and only resorted to in special circumstances. The Government suggested it in the belief that it would really meet the general convenience and wishes of the House and not with any desire, I need scarcely say, to deprive the House of legitimate opportunities of discussion which it might wish to exercise. At the same time I desire to record my personal obligation to the right hon. Gentleman for the friendly spirit in which he met the proposal and also to the right hon. Gentleman. (Mr. Adamson). The discussions on the Budget have been conducted in a very reasonable way. The right hon. Gentleman's claim that there has been no obstruction is amply justified.

Mr. SIDNEY ROBINSON

I do not think this matter can be dismissed in the few words of explanation that we have had. I do not want to stand in the way

of the business of the House being carried on, but this is really a most important matter and one that has become of late years even more important than in the past. There is a tradition that the Finance Bill, of all others, should never be carried through two stages in the course of the same sitting. We were obliged to suspend that rule for the period of the War, and no doubt it was right and necessary that it should be done, but tome of us are crying out for a return to the same methods of finance, and we think that, side by side with the same methods of finance, should come the same methods of conducting the business of the House as regards finance. This Bill has to be discussed and decided in this House alone. We are the trustees for the finances of the country. We are going to make several alterations in it— the Chancellor of the Exchequer has some ten alterations to make—and we are to pass the Third Reading on the same day There were protests, the other evening, as regards our action in passing so important a measure as the Peace Treaty between three and four o'clock on Tuesday morning. There was a great deal of substance in that protest, and so there will be again if we go on and pass this Bill in this hurried way. Only last night there was quite a departure from precedent in the way the Housing Bill was carried through. I know it was just within the four corners of the Rules or Mr. Speaker would not have allowed it, but it was certainly a departure from precedent in allowing control of matters in the House to slip out of his hands. This is the most important Bill the House has ever passed, and yet we are going to rush it through. It is altogether inadequate in its method of raising taxation, and it should receive a great deal more criticism than at has had. I very strongly protest against it, and I only wish hon. Members would feel so strongly that they would divide against it and insist on having an interval before the Third Reading.

Question put, That the Third Heading of the Finance Bill may be taken immediately after the Consideration of the Bill, as amended, notwithstanding the practice of the House as to the interval between the various stages of a Bill relating to Finance.

The House divided: Ayes, 288; Noes, 5.

Division No. 77.] AYES. [4.0 p.m.
Acland, Rt. Hon. Francis Dyke Allen, Col. William James Atkey, A. R.
Adamson, Rt. Hon. William Amery, Lieut-Colonel L. C. M. S. Bagley, Captain E. A.
Agg-Gardner, Sir James Tynte Archdale, Edward M Baird, John Lawrence
Ainsworth, Captain C. Astbury, Lieut.-Com. F. W. Baldwin, Stanley
Barnes, Rt. Hon. G. N. (Gorbals) Gilmour, Lieut.-Colonel John Mitchell, William Lane
Barnston, Major Harry Glanville, Harold James Moles, Thomas
Beauchamp, Sir Edward Glyn, Major R. Mond, Rt. Hon. Sir Alfred Moritz
Beckett, Hon. Gervase Graham, D. M. (Hamilton) Moreing, Captain Algernon H.
Bellairs, Com. Carlyon W. Grant, James Augustus Morison, T. B. (Inverness)
Benn, Sir Arthur S. (Plymouth) Greame, Major P. Lloyd Morrison, H. (Salisbury)
Benn, Capt. W. (Leith) Green, J. F. (Leicester) Mount, William Arthur
Bennett, T. J. Greene, Lt.-Col. W. (Hackney, N.) Murray, Lt.-Col. Hon. A. C. (Aberdeen)
Bentinck, Lt.-Col. Lord H. Cavendish. Greenwood, Col. Sir Hamar Murray, Major C. D. (Edinburgh, S.)
Betterton, H. B. Greig, Colonel James William Murray, Dr. D. (Western Isles)
Bigland, Alfred Griffiths, T. (Pontypool) Murray, Hon. G. (St. Rollox)
Bird, Alfred Gritten, W. G. Howard Nelson, R. F. W. R.
Blair, Major Reginald Grundy, T. W. Newman, Major J. (Finchley, M'ddx.)
Blake, Sir Francis Douglas Guest, J. (Hemsworth, York) Nicholl, Com. Sir Edward
Borwick, Major G. O. Guinness, Lt.-Col. Hon. W. E. (B. St E.) Nicholson, R. (Doncaster)
Boscawen, Sir Arthur Griffith- Gwynne, R. S. Nicholson, w. (Petersfield)
Bowerman, Right Hon. C. W. Hacking, Captain D. H. O'Grady, James
Bowles, Col. H. F. Hallwood, A. Ormsby-Gore, Hon. William
Bowyer, Captain G. W. E. Hallas, E. Palmer, Brig.-Gen. G. (Westbury)
Boyd-Carpenter, Major A. Hambro, Angus Valdemar Parker, James
Brace, Rt. Hon. William Harmsworth, Cecil B. (Luton, Beds.) Parry, Major Thomas Henry
Brassey, H. L. C. Harris, Sir H. P. (Paddington, S.) Pease, Rt. Hon. Herbert Pike
Breese, Major C. E. Hayward, Major Evan Perkins, Walter Frank
Briant, F. Henderson, Major V. L. Pinkham, Lieut.-Col. Charles
Brittain, Sir Harry E. Henry, Denis S. (Londonderry, S.) Pownall, Lieut.-Colonel Assheton
Brown, Captain D. C. (Hexham) Herbert, Denniss (Hertford) Pratt, John William
Brown, J. (Ayr and Bute) Higham, C. F. (Islington, S.) Pretyman, Rt. Hon. Ernest G.
Bruton, Sir J. Hilder, Lieut.-Colonel F. Purchase, H. G.
Buchanan, Lieut.-Colonel A. L. H. Hills, Major J. W. (Durham) Raeburn, Sir William
Buckley, Lt.-Col. A. Hinds, John Randles, Sir John Scurrah
Bull, Right Hon. Sir William James Hirst, G. H. Raper, A. Baldwin
Burgoyne, Lt.-Col. Alan Hughes Hoare, Lt.-Col. Sir Samuel J. G. Ratcliffe, Henry Butler
Burn, Colonel C. R. (Torquay) Hodge, Rt. Hon. John Remer, J. B.
Burn, T. H. (Belfast) Hogge, J. M. Remnant, Col. Sir J. Farquharson
Butcher, Sir J. G. Hohler, Gerald Fitzroy Rendall, Athelstan
Campbell, J. G. D. Hope, James Fitzalan (Sheffield) Renwick, G.
Carew, Charles R. S. (Tiverton) Hope, Lt.-Col. Sir J. (Midlothian) Richardson, R. (Houghton)
Carr, W. T. Hopkins, J. W. W. Roberts, F. O. (W. Bromwich)
Casey, T. W. Hopkinson, Austin (Mossley) Roberts, Rt. Hon. George H. (Norwich)
Chamberlain, Rt. Hon. J. A. (Birm., W.) Horne, Sir Robert (Hillhead) Roberts, Sir S. (Sheffield, Ecclesall)
Cheyne, Sir William Watson Houston, Robert Paterson Robinson, T. (Stretford, Lancs.)
Child, Brig-General Sir Hill Howard, Major S. G. Rodger, A. K.
Clay, Captain H. H. Spender Hughes, Spencer Leigh Rose, Frank H.
Clough, R. Hurd, P. A. Roundell, Lieut.-Colonel R. F.
Colvin, Brigadier-General R. B. Inskip, T. W. H. Rowlands, James
Conway, Sir W. Martin Jackson, Lieut.-Col. Hon. F. S. (York) Royce, William Stapleton
Coote, William (Tyrone, S.) Jodrell, N. P. Samuel, Rt. Hon. Sir H. (Norwood)
Cory, Sir James Herbert (Cardiff Jones, Sir Evan (Pembroke) Seager, Sir William
Cowan, D. M. (Scottish University) Jones, J. Towyn (Carmarthen) Seely, Maj.-Gen. Rt. Hon. John
Craik, Right Hon. Sir Henry Kellaway, Frederick George Shaw, Hon. A. (Kilmarnock)
Croft, Brig.-General Henry Page Kelly, Major Fred (Rotherham) Short, A. (Wednesbury)
Crooks, Rt Hon. William Kenworthy, Lieut-Commander Shortt, Rt. Hon. E. (N'castle-on-T., W.)
Curzon, Commander Viscount Kenyon, Barnet Simm, Colonel M. T.
Davidson, Major-Gen. Sir John H. Kidd, James Sitch, C. H.
Davies, Alfred Thomas (Lincoln) Kinloch-Cooke, Sir Clement Smith, Capt. A. (Nelson and Colne)
Davies, Sir D. S. (Denbigh) Knight, Capt. E. A. Sprot, Colonel Sir Alexander
Davies, T. (Cirencester) Lambert, Rt. Hon. George Stanier, Captain Sir Beville
Davison, J. E. (Smethwick) Lane-Fox, Major G. R. Stanley, Colonel Hon. G. F. (Preston)
Davison, Sir W. H. (Kensington) Law, A. J. (Rochdale) Stanton, Charles Butt
Dewhurst, Lieut.-Com. H. Law, Right Hon. A. Bonar (Glasgow) Stephenson, Colonel H. K.
Dockrell, sir M. Lewis, Rt. Hon. J. H. (Univ. Wales) Sturrock, J. Leng-
Donald, T. Lewis, T. A. (Pontypridd, Glam.) Surtees, Brig.-General H. C.
Doyle, N. Grattan Lister, Sir R. Ashton Sutherland, Sir William
Duncannon, Viscount Lloyd, George Butler Swan, J. E. C.
Du Pre, Colonel W. B. Locker-Lampson, Com. D. (Hunt'don) Sykes, Col. Sir A. J. (Knutsford)
Edge, Captain William Long, Rt. Hon. Walter Talbot, G. A. (Hemel Hempstead)
Edwards, Major J. (Aberavon) Lonsdale, James R. Taylor, J. (Dumbarton)
Edwards, J. H. (Glam., Neath) Lorden, John William Thomas, Brig.-Gen. Sir O. (Anglesey)
Eatwistle, Major C. F. Loseby, Captain C. E. Thomson, F. C. (Aberdeen, S.)
Falle, Major Sir Bertram Godfray Lowe, Sir F. W. Thomson, T. (Middlesbrough, W.)
Farquharson, Major A. C. Lowther, Col. Claude (Lancs., Lons.) Thorne, G. R. (Wolverhampton, E.)
Fell, Sir Arthur M'Donald, Dr. B. F. P. (Wallasey) Tickler, Thomas George
FitzRoy, Capt. Hon. Edward A. M'Guffin, Samuel Townley, Maximilan G.
Flannery, Sir J. Fortescue M'Laren, R. (Lanark, N.) Waddington, R.
Forestier-Walker, L. Maclean, Neil (Glasgow, Govan) Walsh, S. (Ince, Lancs.)
Fraser, Major Sir Keith Maclean, Rt. Hon. Sir D. (Midlothian) Walton, J. (York, Don Valley)
Galbraith, Samuel McMicking, Major Gilbert Ward, Colonel L. (Kingston-upon-Hull)
Gange, E. S. Macnamara, Rt. Hon. Dr. T. J. Wardle, George J.
Ganzoni, Captain F. C. Mallaby-Deeley, Harry Waring, Major Walter
Gardiner, J. (Perth) Malone, Col. C. L. (Leyton, E.) Warner, Sir T. Courtenay T.
Gardner, E. (Berks, Windsor) Malone, Major P. (Tottenham, S.) Warren, Sir Alfred H.
Geddes, Rt. Hon. Sir A. C. (Basingstoke) Manville, Edward Waterson, A. E.
Gibbs, Colonel George Abraham Meysey-Thompson, Lt.-Col. E. C. Watson, Captain John Bertrand
Gilbert, James Daniel Middlebrook, Sir William Wedgwood, Colonel Josiah C.
Weigall, Lt-Col, W. E. G. A. Williams, Col. Sir R. (Dorset, W.) Yate, Colonel Charles Edward
Wheter, Colonel Granville C. H. Wilson, Rt. Hon. J. W. (Stourbridge) Yeo, Sir Alfred William
Whitla, Sir William Wilson, Colonel Leslie (Reading) Young, Robert (Newton, Lanes.)
Wigan, Brigadier-General John Tyson Wilson, Col. M. (Richmond, Yorks.) Young, William (Perth and Kinross)
Willey, Lt.-Col. F. V. Wilson, W. T. (Westhoughton)
Williams, A. (Conset, Durham) Wood, Major Hon. E. (Ripon) TELLERS FOR THE AYES.—Capt.
Williams, Lieut.-Com. C. (Tavistock) Wood, Sir H. K. (Woolwich, W.) Guest and Colonel Sanders.
Williams, Col. P. (Middlesbrough) Wood, Major Mackenzie (Aberdeen, C.)
Williams, Lt.-Col, Sir R. (Banbury) Woolcock, W. J. U.
NOES.
Gretton, Col. John Marriott, John Arthur R. TELLERS FOR THE NOES.—Mr,
Johnstone, J. Wilson, Capt. A. Stanley (Hold'ness) S. Robinson and Mr. Neal.
Macdonald, Rt. Hon. J. M. (Stirling)

Question put, and agreed to.