HC Deb 21 February 1921 vol 138 cc553-5
Mr. CLYNES

(by Private Notice) asked the Leader of the House, with reference to the Unemployment Insurance Act (1920) Amendment Bill named on the Paper, when it is intended to proceed with the stages of this Bill?

Mr. BONAR LAW

As the House knows, it is essentially an emergency Bill. It will, I hope, be available to Members to-morrow evening, and it is the inten- tion of the Government, if the Committee Stags of the Supplementary Estimates is concluded to-morrow, to take it as the first Order on Wednesday. I hope the House will allow it to go through all its stages.

Mr. T. P. O'CONNOR

(by Private Notice) asked the Leader of the House whether he will extend the Debate on Ireland to-day over two days, on the ground of the great importance of the subject and of the large number of Members of this House of all classes who desire to take part in the Debate; and may I add that it is the universal desire, I think, of all parties in this House and outside to find some outlet for the present intolerable and terrible situation, and it might be very desirable to extend the Debate in the hope of finding some agreement for the purpose of discovering such an outlet.

Mr. BONAR LAW

I have received notice of a similar question from my hon. Friend the Member for Dunfermline (Mr. Wallace). I think the House understood, and I know it was understood by my right hon. Friend responsible for the Amendment to-day (Sir D. Maclean), that the Debate should end today, and, so far as the Government are concerned, the position of public business makes it essential that we should end it to-day, but I would remind the House that there are Supplementary Estimates for the Royal Irish Constabulary, which will enable a discussion to take place over very much the same ground.

Mr. WALLACE

Is it quite fair to private Members that in an important Debate of this character the time is almost entirely occupied by prominent statesmen in the House, who wish to speak, or who feel it their duty to speak, at inordinate length?

Mr. BONAR LAW

I am glad my hon. Friend altered his phraseology. He said "those people who wish to speak," and altered it to "those who find it their duty to speak." There is always that complaint in every Debate. It is obvious that the whole House cannot take part in it, and the position of financial business makes it very undesirable to go on for more than one day.

Mr. DEVLIN

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that there are three Amend- ments on the Paper dealing with Ireland, and that he is now, in face of the appalling conditions in that country, only allowing the House of Commons an afternoon's discussion?

Mr. BONAR LAW

Oh, no. We shall have what is called a whole Parliamentary day, which is more than an afternoon, and I have already stated that there will be other opportunities for discussion in connection with the Supplementary Estimates.