HC Deb 01 March 1920 vol 126 cc215-8

Resolution reported, That, if at any time the sums standing to the credit of an account established under any Act of the present Session to make temporary provision on account of the emergency arising from the War as to the profits and control of, wages in, and advances in respect of colliery undertakings and for purposes connected therewith are insufficient to meet the payments to be made out of that account, it is expedient that there shall be paid, out of moneys provided by Parliament, into that account such sums as may be required for the purpose.

Motion made, and Question proposed, "That this House doth agree with the Committee in the said Resolution."

Captain W. BENN

It is quite a surprise to us that this Resolution should be taken to-night The Committee stage of this Money Resolution was taken in exactly the same circumstances. I must ask that some explanation should be forthcoming. I do not think it should be taken as unopposed business. Of course, I have only the right to speak once— [HON. MEMBERS: "Speak up!"] A Resolution is being taken authorising the expenditure of money in connection with the Coal Mines (Emergency) Bill. The Committee stage of this Resolution was taken also without discussion after 11 o'clock, and I think this House is not doing right to take the Report stage, without any discussion, as unopposed business after 11 o'clock.

Mr. BRIDGEMAN

There is nothing to prevent the Report stage of a Money Resolution being taken after 11 o'clock under the Rules of the House. I do not know whether the hon. Gentleman wants any explanation?

Captain BENN

Yes, indeed. It is debatable and I propose to debate it.

Mr. BRIDGEMAN

A White Paper has been issued, which no doubt the hon. and gallant Gentleman has already read, explaining what this Resolution seeks to do. The reason why I did not say anything in introducing it was that I did not know there was any opposition to it. The object of it is to finance the Coal Controller in order that he may carry out his duties under the Coal Mines (Emergency) Bill. As I think hon. Gentlemen know, the Coal Controller has to collect a levy upon those mines which are able to export and to make up the deficiency to mines which have had losses under the operation of the Coal Control. It is impossible for him to do this without having money advanced by the Treasury, which he will have to repay, under Clause 7, Sub-section (4), of the Bill, which provides that the Treasury may out of moneys provided by Parliament pay into the account such sums as may be required for the purpose, but any sums so issued shall be treated as temporary advances and shall be repaid to the Chancellor of the Exchequer with interest as soon as funds become available for the purpose. He is unable to collect the levies until the Bill is passed, and even then they are collected by the Inland Revenue authorities. Two months' notice is required before they can enforce payment. The result is that the Coal Controller will start without being able to collect levies, and yet has to advance money for a great many purposes under the Act. It is for this reason that it is required to borrow money from the Treasury for him to carry out his duties, and this money will be repaid by him as soon as he gets the levies I from the well-to-do mines. It is very essential that this Resolution should be passed now, as the Bill comes before the Committee at eleven o'clock this morning, and we cannot pass the Bill through Committee without having this Resolution. I had no idea that anybody wished to dispute the propriety of this Resolution. When they have read the White Paper perhaps hon. Members will be convinced that it is not necessary to oppose it.

Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHY

I think we are very much indebted to my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Leith for having reminded this honourable House of its duty in this matter. We are asked to support a Money Resolution, yet no sum is named. It may mean a very large sum. I had understood that the Coal Controller was to be financed, he and his Department and the general bag of tricks, out of the profits of certain mines. I do not know whether the mines are going to run at a profit or; loss, but I understand that they are going to run at a great profit; yet we are asked to vote money, or what might be money, for it simply empowers the Government to charge this money to the Exchequer presently—without a word of explanation and in view of the parlous financial condition of the country, an empty Treasury, continued expenditure, and diminished returns. I certainly think we might have had some explanation. I am very glad we have had such an explanation, as, on the spur of the moment, the hon. Gentleman who represents the Board of Trade was good enough to give us. It seems to me to be extremely irregular. I have not road the White Paper. I did not know this was going to be brought on. All I knew was that there were a lot of Amendments in connection with the War Emergency Bill, and it came as a complete surprise to me to find a Money Resolution brought forward at nearly one o'clock in the morning. I do hope this is not going to be the general practice of the Government during what, I hope, is going to be their short tenure of office.

The remaining Orders were read and postponed.