§ Mr. RAMSAY MacDONALDMay I ask the Prime Minister what business he proposes to take to-morrow and next week?
§ The PRIME MINISTERTo-morrow, after the Judicial Proceedings (Regulation of Reports) Bill has been disposed of, we shall consider Lords Amendments to the Criminal Justice (Increase of Penalties) Bill, and the Burgh Registers (Scotland) Bill, anti take the Third Reading of the Palestine and Fast Africa Loans (Guarantee) Bill.
2293 On Monday: Report and Third Reading of the Sale of Food (Weights and Measures) Bill [Lords], Coroner's (Amendment) Bill [Lords], Legitimacy Bill [Lords], Mental Deficiency Bill [Lords], Judicial Committee Bill [Lords], and consideration of any Lords Amendments to Bills which may be received from another place.
Tuesday: Lords Amendments to Bills and any other business necessary to bring the Session to a close. An opportunity will, be given for a Debate on Necessitous Areas, to be initiated by the Opposition.
I hope that Prorogation will take place on Wednesday next, 15th December.
§ The PRIME MINISTERThe Palestine and East Africa Loans (Guarantee) Bill, Committee stage, the Sale of Food (Weights and Measures) Bill, Committee stage, the Emergency Powers Act Regulations Resolution and the Judicial Committee Bill, Committee stage.
Captain BENNWill the Judicial Committee Bill be taken before the Regulations, or will the Regulations be taken first?
§ The PRIME MINISTERThe Regulations first.
Captain BENNHas the Prime Minister observed the Amendments on the Paper in connection with these first two Orders mentioned, and can he give any estimate of the time at which this Emergency Regulations Resolution will be taken?
§ The PRIME MINISTERThat of course is a matter on which I cannot give an opinion. It rests with the House.
Captain BENNDoes the right hon. Gentleman think it right to take a Resolution of such great Constitutional importance at an early hour in the morning?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI should have thought that the surrender of these Emergency powers would have been something agreeable to hon. Members.
§ Sir JOHN MARRIOTTIs it intended to complete the Committee stage of the Sale of Food (Weights and Measures) Bill to-night? It is a very contentions Measure.
§ The PRIME MINISTERIt is impossible to say how much can be accomplished, but. I hope we can take what I have announced.
§ Mr. MACLEANIn regard to the Emergency Regulations, is it not the substitution of some Orders for others? Have we not received a White Paper intimating to us that instead of withdrawing the Orders the Home Secretary is substituting certain Orders for others?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI have not seen any White Paper.
§ Mr. MACLEANThen I think the Debate should be adjourned if the Prime Minister does not know what is going to come on. Surely it is time he had the White Paper in his hand to read it.
Captain BENNDoes not the Prime Minister realise the impropriety of taking a Resolution of this importance so late to-night? It is the only opportunity we have of discussing the whole of the procedure under the Emergency Powers Act.
§ The PRIME MINISTERI fail to see any impropriety.
§ Mr. MACLEANAm I to understand that the White Paper in my hand, which contains certain Orders in substitution of other Orders, will not be brought before the house to-night?
§ The PRIME MINISTERNo. It is coming before the House.
§ Mr. MACLEANThen you know about it?
Captain BENNDoes the Prime Minister arrange at what time business shall be taken without acquainting himself with what the business in question is?
§ Mr. RAMSAY MacDONALDI do not know if I am properly informed. There is no agreement, but I understood there was a sort of understanding that these Emergency Regulations would be debated at a fairly reasonable hour, and that, if any of the other business had not been finished before that reasonable hour, it would be continued after the Emergency Regulations. I want to make it quite clear to the House that I do not say there is any agreement—none whatever—but I thought there was a sort of friendly understanding.
§ The PRIME MINISTERThe right hon. Gentleman is perfectly right in saying there is no agreement, and he is perfectly right in his assumption that we shall take these Regulations at a reasonable hour. I have only given what I hope it will be possible to do.
Captain BENNIs the right hon. Gentleman not aware that to-night is the last opportunity for taking these Regulations, and that if he does not take the Resolution to-night, the Regulations will be revived under the Emergency Powers Act?
§ The PRIME MINISTERMy hon. and gallant Friend has not got the time quite right.
§ from the day on which they are laid, and that they were actually laid on Friday of last week?
§ Captain GARRO-JONESWould it be a great calamity if the house were to sit an additional day, so that we could take the Regulations now?
§ The PRIME MINISTERNo. if the hon. and gallant. Gentleman asked, I have no doubt that the House would sit tilt Christmas Eve.
§
Motion made, and Question put,
That the proceeding on Government Business be exempted at. this day's Sitting from the provisions of the Standing Order (Sittings of the House)."—[The Prime Minister.]
§ The House divided Ayes, 216: Noes. 102.
2297| Division No. 550.] | AYES. | [3.54 p.m. |
| Acland-Troyte, Lieut.-Colonel | Craig, Ernest (Chester, Crewe) | Hawke, John Anthony |
| Ainsworth, Major Charles | Cralk, Rt. Hon. Sir Henry | Headlam. Lieut.-Colonel C. M. |
| Albery, Irving James | Croft, Brigadier-General Sir H. | Herbert, S. (York, N. R., Scar.amp; Wh'by) |
| Alexander, E. E. (Leyton) | Crooke, J. Smedley (Deritend) | Hills, Major John Waiter |
| Applin, Colonel R. V. K. | Crookshank, Col. C. de W. (Berwick) | Hogg, Rt. Hon. Sir O. (St, Marylebone) |
| Apsley, Lord | Cunliffe. Sir Herbert | Holland. Sir Arthur |
| Ashley, Lt.-Col. Rt. Hon. Wilfrid W. | Curzon, Captain Viscount | Hope, Capt. A. O. J. (Warw'k, Nun.) |
| Atholl, Duchess of | Dalkeith, Earl of | Hopkinson, Sir A. (Eng. Universities) |
| Baldwin, Rt. Hon. Stanley | Davison, Sir W. H. (Kensington, S.) | Hudson, Capt. A. U, M.(Hackney, N.) |
| Barclay-Harvey, C. M. | Dawson, Sir Philip | Hudson, R. S. (Cumberland, Whiteh'n) |
| Barnett, Major Sir Richard | Dean, Arthur Wellesley | Hume, Sir G. H. |
| Beckett, Sir Gervase (Leeds, N.) | Dixey. A. C. | Hurd. Percy A. |
| Bellairs, Commander Carlyon W. | Dixon, Captain Rt. Hon. Herbert | Hurst, Gerald B. |
| Bennett, A. J. | Drewe, C. | Hutchison,G.A.Clark (Midl'n & P'bl's) |
| Bentinck, Lord Henry Cavendish- | Edmondson, Major A. J. | Inskip, Sir Thomas Walker H. |
| Berry, Sir George | Edwards, J. Hugh (Accrington) | Jackson, Sir H. (Wandsworth, Cen'l) |
| Betterton, Henry B | Elliott, Major Walter E. | Jacob, A. E. |
| Bird, E. R. (Yorks, W. R., Skipton; | Ellis, R. G. | James. Lieut.-Colonel Hon. Cuthbert |
| Blundell, F. N. | Erskine Lord (Somerset.Weston-s.-M.) | Jephcott, A. R. |
| Bowyer. Captain G. E. W. | Erskine,' James Malcolm Monteith | Kennedy. A. P. (Preston) |
| Braithwaite. A. N. | Evans, Captain A. (Cardiff, South) | Kidd, J. (Linlithgow) |
| Brass, captain W. | Everard, W. Lindsay | King, Capt. Henry Douglas |
| Bridgeman, Rt. Hon. William dive | Fairfax, Captain J. G. | Kinloch-Cooke. Sir Clement |
| Briggs, J. Harold | Falle. Sir Bertram G. | Lane Fox, Col. Rt. Hon. George R. |
| Briscoe, Richard George | Fanshawe. Commander G. D. | Lister, Cunliffe, Rt. Hon. Sir Philip |
| Brittain, Sir Harry | Fermoy, Lord | Locker-Lampson, G. (Wood Green) |
| Brown, Col. D. C. (N'th'l'd., Hexham) | Fielden, E. B. | Loder, J. de V. |
| Brown, Brig. Gen. H.C. (Berks, Newb'y) | Forestier. Walker, Sir L. | Lowe. Sri Francis William |
| Buckingham, Sir H. | Foster, Sir Harry S. | Luce, Maj.-Gen. Sir Richard Harman |
| Bullock, Captain M. | Frece, Sir Walter de | Macdonald, Capt. P.D. (I. of W.) |
| Burgoyne, Lieut.-Colonel Sir Alan | Fremantle, Lieut.-Colonel Francis E | MacIntyre, Ian |
| Burman. J. B. | Gadie. Lieut.-Col. Anthony | McLean. Major A. |
| Burton. Colonel H. W. | Ganzoni, Sir John | McNeill, Rt. Hon. Ronald John |
| Cadogan, Major Hon. Edward | Gilmour, Lt.-Col. Rt. Hon. Sir John | Maitland, Sir Arthur D. Steel- |
| Caine, Gordon Hall | Glyn, Major R. G. C. | Malone, Major P. B. |
| Carver, W. H. | Grace, John | Manningnam-Buller. Sir Mervyn |
| Cautley, Sir Henry s. | Graham, Fergus (Cumberland. N.) | Margesson, Captain D. |
| Cazalet, Captain Victor A. | Grant, Sir J. A. | Marriott, Sir J. A. R. |
| Chadwick, Sir Robert Burton | Grattan-Doyle, Sir N. | Merriman, F. B. |
| Chamberlain, Rt. Hon. N. (Ladywood) | Greene. W. P. Crawford | Mitchell, S. (Lanark, Lanark) |
| Chapman, Sir S. | Gretton, Colonel Rt. Hon. John | Moles, Thomas |
| Charteris, Brigadier-General J. | Grotrian, H. Brent | Monsell, Eyres, Com. Rt. Hon. B. M. |
| Christie, I. A. | Guinness, Rt. Hon. Walter E. | Moore-Brabazon, Lieut.-Col. J. T. C. |
| Churchill, Rt. Hon. Winston Spencer | Gunston, Captain D. W. | Morrison, H. (Wilts, Salisbury) |
| Churchman, Sir Arthur C. | Hacking, Captain Douglas H. | Murchison, C. K. |
| Cobb, Sir Cyril | Hall, Lieut. Col. Sir F. (Dulwich) | Newman, Sir R. H. S. D. L. (Exeter) |
| Cochrane. Commander Hon. A. D. | Hall, Capt- W. D'A. (Brecon & Rad) | Newton, Sir D. G. C. (Cambridge) |
| Cockerill. Brig.-General Sir G. K. | Hannon, Patrick Joseph Henry | Nicholson, Col. Rt. Hn. W. G.(Ptrsf'ld.) |
| Cohen, Major J. Brunei | Harland, A. | Nield, Rt. Hon. Sir Herbert |
| Colfox, Major William Phillips | Harrison, G. J. C. | Nuttall, Ellis |
| Cooper, A. Duff | Hartington, Marquess of | Oman, Sir Charles William C. |
| Cope, Major William | Haslam, Henry C. | Ormsby-Gore, Hon. William |
| Percy, Lord Eustace (Hastings) | Shaw, Cap). Walter (Wilts, Westb'yl | Waddington, R. |
| Perkins, Colonel E. K. | Sheffield, Sir Berkeley | Wallace, Captain D. E. |
| Peto, Basil E. (Devon, Barnstaple) | Simms, Dr. John M. (Co. Down) | Ward, Lt.-Col. A. L. (Kingstonon-Hull) |
| Peto, G. (Somerset, Frome) | Slaney, Major P. Kenyon | Warner, Brigadier-General W. W. |
| Price, Major C. W. M. | Smith, R.W. (Aberd'n & Kinc'dine, C.) | Waterhouse, Captain Charles |
| Radford, E. A. | Smithers, Waldron | Watson, Rt. Hon. W. (Carlisle) |
| Raine. W. | Somerville, A. A. (Windsor) | Watts, Dr. T. |
| Ramsden, E. | Spender-Clay, Colonel H. | Wells, S. R. |
| Rawson, Sir Cooper | Stanley. Col. Hon. G. F. (Will'sden, E.I | Wheler, Major Sir Granville C. H. |
| Reid, Capt. Cunningham (Warrington) | Stanley, Lord (Fylde) | White, Lieut.-Col. Sir G. Dairymple. |
| Remnant, Sir James | Steel, Major Samuel String | Williams, Com. C. (Devon, Torquay) |
| Rhys, Hon. C. A. U. | Stuart, Hon. J. (Moray and Nairn) | Windsor-Clive, Lieut-Colonel George |
| Richardson, Sir P. W. (Sur'y, Ch'ts'y) | Sueter, Rear-Admiral Murray Fraser | Wise, Sir Fredric |
| Ropner, Major L. | Sugden, Sir Wilfrid | Wolmer, Viscount |
| Ruggles-Brise, Major E. A. | Sykes, Major-Gen. Sir Frederick K. | Womersley, w. J. |
| Russell, Alexander West (Tynemouth) | Thorn, Lt.-Col. J. G. (Dumbarton) | Wood, E. (Chest'r, Stalyb'dge & Hyde) |
| Samuel, A, M. (Surrey, Farnham) | Thomson, F. C. (Aberdeen, South) | Woodcock, Colonel H. C. |
| Sandeman, A. Stewart | Thomson, Rt. Hon. Sir W. Mitchell- | Yerburgh, Major Robert D. T. |
| Sanderson, Sir Frank | Tinne, J. A. | |
| Sandon, Lord | Titchfield, Major the Marquess of | TELLERS FOR THE AYES.— |
| Sassoon, Sir Philip Albert Gustavo D. | Tryon, Rt. Hon. George Clement | Colonel Gibbs and Major Hennessy. |
| NOES. | ||
| Adamson, W. M. (Staff., Cannock) | Hayes, John Henry | Richardson, R. (Houghton-le-Spring) |
| Ammon, Charles George | Henderson, T. (Glasgow) | Robinson, W. C.(Yorks, W.R., Elland) |
| Attlee, Clement Richard | Hirst, W. (Bradford, South) | Rose, Frank H. |
| Baker, Walter | Hore-Belisha, Leslie | Saklatvala, Shapurji |
| Barker, G. (Monmouth, Abertillery) | Jenkins, W. (Glamorgan, Neath) | Salter, Dr. Alfred |
| Barnes, A. | John, William (Rhondda, West) | Scrymgeour, E. |
| Barr, J. | Johnston, Thomas (Dundee) | Short, Alfred (Wednesbury) |
| Batey, Joseph | Jones, Morgan (Caerphilly) | Slesser, Sir Henry H. |
| Benn, Captain Wedgwood (Leith) | Jones, T. I. Mardy (Pontypridd) | Smith, Ben (Bermondsey, Rotherhille) |
| Bondfield, Margaret | Kelly, w. T. | Smith, Rennie (Penistone) |
| Brown, James (Ayr and Bute) | Kennedy, T. | Spoor, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Charles |
| Buchanan, G. | Kirkwood, D. | Stamford, T. W. |
| Cape, Thomas | Lawrence, Susan | Stephen, Campbell |
| Charleton, H. C. | Lawson, John James | Sutton, J. E. |
| Cove, W. G. | Lee, F. | Taylor, R. A. |
| Dalton, Hugh | Livingstone, A. M. | Thomas, Sir Robert John (Anglesey) |
| Davies, Evan (Ebbw Vale) | Lowth, T. | Thomson, Trevelyan (Middlesbro, W.) |
| Davies, Rhys John (Westhoughton) | Lunn, William | Thorne, W. (West Ham, Plaistow) |
| Day, Colonel Harry | MacDonald, Rt. Hon. J. R.(Aberavon) | Thurtle, Ernest |
| Dennison, R. | MacLaren, Andrew | Tinker, John Joseph |
| Duncan, C. | Maclean, Nell (Glasgow, Govan) | Trevelyan, Rt. Hon. C. P. |
| Dunnico, H. | MacNeill-Weir, L. | viant, S. P. |
| Garro-Jones, Captain G. M. | March, S. | Wallhead, Richard C. |
| Gibbins, Joseph | Maxton, James | Walsh, Rt. Hon. Stephen |
| Gillett, George M. | Mitchell. E. Rosslyn (Paisley) | Webb, Rt. Hon. Sidney |
| Gosling, Harry | Morris, R. H. | Wedgwood, Rt. Hon. Josiah |
| Graham, D. M. (Lanark, Hamilton) | Morrison, R. C. (Tottenham, N.) | Welsh, J. C. |
| Graham, Rt. Hon. Wm. (Edin., Cent.) | Murnin, H. | Westwood, J. |
| Grenfell, D. R. (Glamorgan) | Oliver, George Harold | Whiteley, W. |
| Groves, T. | Owen, Major G. | Wiggins, William Martin |
| Guest, Haden (Southwark, N.) | Palin, John Henry | Williams, T. (York. Don Valley) |
| Hall, G. H. (Merthyr Tydvil) | Paling, W. | Wright, W. |
| Hamilton, Sir R. (Orkney & Shetland) | Ponsonby, Arthur | |
| Hardle. George D. | Potts, John S. | TELLERS FOR THE NOES.— |
| Hartshorn, Rt. Hon. Vernon | Purcell, A. A. | Mr. Allen Parkinson and Mr. |
| Charles Edwards. |
Question put, and agreed to.