§ 45. Mr. AUBREY HERBERTasked the Prime Minister which is the Departmental list that deals with the names of foreigners that are to be submitted for honours?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLThe Foreign Office submits recommendations in regard to persons other than those of British nationality.
§ Mr. HERBERTDid not the Foreign Office recommend the highest possible honour for a foreign millionaire?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLObviously, I could not answer that question without knowing the person whom my hon. Friend has in mind, and without sufficient notice to consult the authorities.
§ Mr. SPEAKERThe hon. Member is not entitled to put a question by way of a supplementary that has several times been refused
§ Mr. G. LOCKER-LAMPSON(by Private Notice) asked the Prime Minister whether he can now give a definite date for the Debate on the Motion standing in the names of 266 Members in regard to the submission of names to His Majesty for honours?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLThe Government had hoped to give a day next week for the discussion of this Motion, but, owing to the continued indisposition of my right hon. Friend the Leader of the House (Mr. Chamberlain), who desires to be in his place on that occasion, I am afraid that it will not be possible to fix a date earlier than Monday, 17th July, for this Debate.
§ Mr. LOCKER-LAMPSONIs not the Prime Minister the sole person responsible for the official submission of lists of honours, and, if that is the case, why is it necessary that the Lord Privy Seal should be here?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLThe Lord Privy Seal particularly desires to be present and to take part in the general statement of the Government case, and I think that, considering that only a delay of less than 10 days is involved, it would be quite a departure from the usual consideration which the House shows to Members, to object to deferring the Debate until my right hon. Friend can be in his place to take part in it.
§ Sir D. MACLEANNo one would wish to do anything which would at all inconvenience the Leader of the House, whose continued absence we all most deeply regret; but may we take it that on Monday week, the 17th, the Debate will take place whether the Leader of the House 369 is able to be here or not, and is not the right hon. Gentleman aware that there is a great deal of public interest in this matter, and that a large number of Members desire its immediate discussion?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLYes, Sir. The Government would have desired that the Debate should take place next Monday, and that, from many points of view, would have been more convenient to them; but we hope that the Leader of the House will be in his place on the Monday following, and, therefore, we have asked the House to agree to the Debate being put off till then, In the event of the Leader of the House not being able to be present on that day, I agree that we shall then have to go forward with the Debate, in spite of the disadvantage of his absence.
§ Colonel WEDGWOODCan we be certain that the Prime Minister will be in his place on the 17th?
Mr. CHUCHILLI am certain that, if it rest with the Prime Minister, he will be the first person to wish to be present.