BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE. (Hansard, 25 March 1926)

§ Mr. CLYNES
May I ask if the Prime Minister will be good enough to state the business for next week, and whether he can announce now the date for the Budget speech?

The PRIME MINISTER (Mr. Bald win)
I am afraid I cannot announce the date for the Budget speech to-day.
With regard to the business for next week, we propose, on Monday, to take the Second Reading of the Electricity (Supply) Bill.
Tuesday and Wednesday, until a Quarter past Eight, the Committee stage of the Economy Bill.
Thursday, the Motion for Adjournment.

§ Mr. CLYNES
May I ask the Prime Minister whether he does not seriously think that one day for a Bill like the Electricity Bill is too short a time? It is a Bill that introduces new principles of very great dimensions, and I trust the Prime Minister will be able to revise the arrangement which he has announced.

§ The PRIME MINISTER
I have not put this down without having considered it, and the reasons that induced me to think that one day would be sufficient were these: First of all, it was the time given for the Electricity (Supply) Bill which was introduced in the time of the Government of the right hon. Gentleman the Member for Carnarvon Boroughs (Mr. Lloyd George). Secondly, I was not encouraged by the result of conceding extra time for the Debate on the Economy Bill, when we had the greatest difficulty in keeping the Debate going. I sat in this House for a protracted period in the eve ring when there were not more than half-a-dozen Members of all parties present. Thirdly, while it may be true to say that a new principle is involved, the whole crux of the Bill consists really in its details. Alterations will undoubtedly be made in the Bill, and we should propose to give ample time on the Report stage, which will take place in ail House, when the fullest discussion will be possible. These are the reasons, and there were no other reasons, that induced me to think the House would consider one day to be sufficient.

§ Mr. CLYNES
May I further submit to the Prime Minister that there really is no urgent need for disposing of the Committee stage of the Economy Bill prior to the House rising for Easter; and, while this. is not the time for debating the reasons recited by the Prime Minister for having given only one day for the Electricity Bill, might I remind him that the Bill will leave this House and go upstairs, and that, in view of the fact that its details cannot be discussed here, we should have ample time for discussing its man principles?

§ The PRIME MINISTER
I cannot agree with the right hon. Gentleman's observation as to the Economy Bill. One of the difficulties that I have in fixing the date of the Budget is that I cannot fix it until the Economy Bill has gone through. That must precede the introduction of the Budget. The Economy Bill is a Bill which, although it aroused so little interest on the Second Reading, will arc use a good deal of interest on the Committee stage. My right hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury had the greatest difficulty in keeping a House for the Second Reading. 1386 We had to keep a House owing to the failure of other parties to attend. We must make some progress with the Economy Bill in Committee, recognising the desire of the House, as expressed by the Amendments that have been put down, that there should be a somewhat protracted discussion upon it.

§ Mr. CLYNES
I think the view that some progress with the Economy Bill must be made might be accepted subject to an understanding, through the proper channels, that some further consideration should be given to the question of the time to be allotted for the Electricity Bill.

§ The PRIME MINISTER
If my right hon. Friend puts that, I can have no personal objection. We will do what we can to meet him.

Lieut.-Commander KE,NWORTHY
When the Prime Minister speaks of the lack of attendance during the Economy Bill Debate, is he aware that his party numbers over 400, and that it is their lack of interest in Parliament that means thin Houses here?

§ The PRIME MINISTER
If I am to observe the rules of proportion, I must say that I was in the House when no representatives of the hon. and gallant Gentleman's party were present.