HC Deb 07 May 1925 vol 183 cc1319-22

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

Captain BOURNE

In view of the arrangement to which, Sir, you have already referred, I do not propose to move the Amendment standing in my name, but I hope when the Second Reading of the Finance Bill takes place hon. Members who, like myself, have some views on this policy, may be given a chance to express their opinion. I also hope that hon. Members opposite will recollect that this change in taxation means very serious burdens on certain classes, and is worthy of discussion in this House.

Captain GARRO-JONES

I cannot hope that anything I say will have any effect, but that does not absolve me from the duty, as I conceive it, of uttering an emphatic protest. against this arrangement which has been made to-night, and the weight which has been given to it. Firstly, a very harmless interruption by an hon. Member opposite was adversely criticised. Secondly, the Chancellor of the Exchequer said he had no time to reply to arguments which had been put forward. We might as well not have had a debate at all. Thirdly, the Leader of the Opposition said we should now have a Division. I consider that to be entirely contrary to the duties and privileges of those who sit on the Back Benches of the House of Commons, and I protest with all my strength against it.

The PRIME MINISTER

I can assure my hon. Friend the Member for Oxford (Captain Bourne) that there will be ample time for discussion of this subject in the Committee Stage of the Finance Bill. I would like to remind the House, and especially those who have, perhaps, not been so long in it, that, as a matter of fact, we are giving a longer time to this stage of the discussion than has been given for many years. For the general convenience of the House, and to avoid unduly late sittings, this arrangement was come to by general assent. It happens sometimes that when these arrangements are reached, it is not possible to control the allocation of time as among the various subjects, so some subjects necessarily suffer. But with any allocation that is made by arrangement with the House or otherwise, in the later stages of the discussion, care must be taken, of course, to rectify any unfairness.

Captain BENN

In order to correct the impression which I am sure the Prime Minister did not want to give, I ought to say that, before the War, it was customary to give much more time, and that the practice to which he refers is post-War practice,.

The PRIME MINISTER

I quite agree, but it is also to be remembered that, since the War, there has been so much necessary legislation to be carried.