HC Deb 30 May 1919 vol 116 cc1585-7
Sir DONALD MACLEAN

May I ask the Joint Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury a question about Monday's business, and especially in regard to the Land Acquisition Bill? The Leader of the House announced yesterday that it was proposed to take the Ways and Means Resolution on which a loan is to be issued, then the Resolution of Pre-War Trade Practices Bill, and then the Land Acquisition Bill. Has the Leader of the House really considered what is the position with regard to the Business of the House and in Committees upstairs? On Monday the Scottish Housing Bill will be on practically all day; the Committee will meet in the morning and resume again at fouro'clock, sitting probably till half -past six or seven. At the same time the Land Acquisition Bill may be on in the House, and it is a Bill in which one naturally takes a keen interest. Extraordinary progress has been made with Government measures, but the Land Bill is of as much interest as any of the measures before the House or before the various Committees. I really must strongly impress upon the Government that that; Bill should not be gone on with on Monday. Does not the right hon. Gentleman think that the Government have been extraordinarily generous in giving two days for the Devolution Debate—the whole of Tuesday and, if wished, Wednesday. I think that Tuesday is quite enough for that subject. No doubt a number of Members wish to speak, but they need not make speeches occupying an hour and a half in length——

Mr. SPEAKER

I may remind the right hon. Gentleman that there is no Motion before the House.

Sir D. MACLEAN

In view of all the facts I have stated, do not the Government think they might hold over the Land Acquisition Bill?

Lieut.-Colonel MURRAY

May I ask the Noble Lord if he will give serious consideration to the request of my right hon. Friend the Member for Peebles. The Land Acquisition Bill is——

Mr. SPEAKER

The hon. and gallant Member must not follow a bad example.

Lieut.-Colonel MURRAY

Then may I ask the Parliamentary Secretary whether, in view of the request that has been made by the Noble Lord the Member for Horsham (Earl Winterton) and the importance of the police question, he will not move the Adjournment at 8.15 on Monday night in order that we may have a discussion on that question, and if he will accede to the request of the right hon. Gentleman the Member for Peebles in respect of the Land Acquisition Bill by taking it, say, on Wednesday, if the discussion on Devolution is ended?

Lord E. TALBOT

I am afraid I shall have to follow the bad example already set, but I will be as brief as I can. I quite agree with my right hon. Friend opposite that a great deal of work has been done, but I must venture to point out that a great deal still remains to be done. It is quite true the Leader of the House announced the Land Acquisition Bill as the Order of the Day to follow, the Pre-War Trades Practices Bill, but his intention was to put that down as second Order on Monday following the Ways and Means Resolution, which I do not anticipate will take any length of time. Considering what we have to do, although I am most anxious to meet my right hon. Friend, I do suggest that we might get on with the Land Acquisition Bill as second Order.

Sir D. MACLEAN

Is the Noble Lord bearing in mind the fact that the Scottish Housing Bill is on from four to 6.30 on that afternoon? I must be there.

Lord E. TALBOT

On Monday?

Sir D. MACLEAN

Yes, on Monday.

Lord E. TALBOT

I agree it is an awkward position, and we will do our best to meet my right hon. Friend.