HC Deb 25 May 1921 vol 142 cc152-4
Mr. CLYNES

I beg to ask the Leader of the House whether he has any announcement to make with regard to a variation of business as previously announced for this week; and whether, in the event of the Finance Bill being disposed of, it is intended to take any further business to-night?

Mr. CHAMBERLAIN

As regards tonight, I shall hope to take some of the Report stages if the Finance Bill is disposed of in time.

Mr. CLYNES

Which of them?

Mr. CHAMBERLAIN

Perhaps the right hon. Gentleman will communicate with my hon. Friend the Patronage Secretary (Lieut.-Colonel Leslie Wilson), and we will try to arrange a programme which is acceptable.

As regards the programme of business already announced, representations have reached me, I think from all quarters of the House, that it would be inconvenient to Members to take a discussion on so important a Bill as the Railways Bill on Friday. I must point out to the House that we cannot continue to treat Friday as a day which is not available for important Government business, if we are to make progress. It is my business to meet the wishes of the House as far as I can, and I propose therefore on Friday to take the discussion on the Motion on the Labour Conference (Conventions) standing in the name of my right hon. Friend the Member for the Gorbals Division (Mr. G. Barnes).

The business for next week will be:—

Lieut.-Colonel A. MURRAY

As to the business to-day, will a statement be made as to the result of the conference with the Patronage Secretary?

Mr. CHAMBERLAIN

I cannot interrupt the discussion on the Finance Bill, in order to make a statement on what will follow when it is over. If there be any particular Report which It is desired to hold over I shall try to meet the convenience of the House—any particular Report, not all Reports. We propose to take the Reports in the order in which they stand on the Paper.

Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHY

It has been decided to allow two days for the Railways Bill. Will the second day in next week be a full day, or will the discussion end at dinner-time?

Mr. CHAMBERLAIN

We allotted two days. If the two days should not be required, or the whole of the two days be not required, we shall, of course, proceed with other business.

Mr. ORMSBY-GORE

As to the business for next week, are we to understand that the discussion on Thursday on the Colonial Office Vote is to be confined to the statement of the Secretary of State on his visit to the Middle East, or is it to extend to the Imperial Conference and other Colonial questions?

Mr. CHAMBERLAIN

I imagine that it will be for the convenience of the House that the statement of my right hon. Friend on the Middle East should be made at the opening of the discussion. I hope there may be time to proceed with other matters properly to be raised on that Vote in the course of the day. Of course, the conduct of the discussion is in the hands of the Chairman of Committees, and not in the Hands of the Government.

Earl WINTERTON

Does the right hon. Gentleman remember what took place at question time yesterday, when, in view of the feeling expressed in all quarters of the House, he promised to consider having a full day for the discussion of African questions, and another day for the Colonial Office Vote?

Mr. CHAMBERLAIN

I am quite prepared to keep the Vote open, and not to take it on Thursday night, so that if time can be found, there may be an opportunity for another day's discussion. On the other hand, if the discussion on the Middle East should not require more than half a day, it will probably be convenient to proceed at once to the discussion of the other important questions raised by my Noble Friend.