BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE. (Hansard, 17 March 1927)

§ Mr. RAMSAY MacDONALD
May I ask the Prime Minister to tell us what business he proposes to take next week?

§ The PRIME MINISTER
On Monday, the Report of Navy Estimates and Civil Services Excess Votes; Ways and Means, Report.
Tuesday: Until 8.15 we shall resume the adjourned Debate on the Second Reading of the Cinematograph Films Bill, and, time permit, take the Second Reading of the Pacific Cable Bill.
Wednesday: Until 8.15, the Second Reading of the Sheriff Courts and Legal Officers (Scotland) Bill, and of the organisation of Offices (Scotland) Bill; the Committee stage of the necessary Money Resolutions for these Bills; and, if time permit, other Orders on the Paper.
Thursday: The Second Reading of the Consolidated Fund Bill and the Army and Air Force (Annual) Bill.

§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHY
May I ask a question with reference to the Notice of Motion in the name of the Prime Minister I refer to that part of it dealing with the Report of the Army Supplementary Estimate. Is it really necessary to take this after 11.0 o'clock to-night, and at the same time take the Reports of the ordinary Army Estimates? In view of the fact that this Supplementary Estimate raises the whole question of the Shanghai Defence Force, could it not be taken at some other time?

§ The PRIME MINISTER
It does not follow that it will have to be taken after 11.0. The present Motion was put down after consultation with the Opposition. We hope to get these Votes to-day, and, I hope, within a reasonable time; but it is necessary to put down the Motion as we have done, and as the hon. and gallant Member will remember was done on two occasions by the Labour Government before he was a member of that party.

§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHY
is not the proposal that the Report of a Supplementary Estimate should be taken after 11 o'clock debatable'? If that is so, I wish, very briefly, to enter my protest against this Motion. This is a new service altogether, involving an expenditure of nearly £1,000,000 for the Shanghai Defence Force, and I think it is very undesirable that it should be taken as a matter of routine, possibly late at night. I appreciate what the Prime Minister says, and I am sure the Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury does not want to keep up sitting late at night, and I would ask the Prime Minister and the Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury to meet us in this way—that if the Debate on the Air Estimates, which is expected to last till 11 o'clock—and may go later in view of the very important matter which is being discussed—should continue to a late hour, we should not go beyond the Army Estimates proper? There was not much Debate this year on the Army Estimates in principle, and none of us object to taking the Report of those—I think I can speak for my Friends on that point. The Secretary of State for War got a very smooth passage for his Estimates, and I daresay deservedly so, and I do not want to impede him in getting the Report stage. The Supplementary Estimate, however, is a different matter altogether. It may mean very grave events in the future for this country, and the opportunity of discussion should not be taken away from this House. I do ask the Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury to meet us with regard to that, if he gets his Air and Army Estimates Reports to-night. I do not think he can complain of anything in the nature of undue discussion on this side of the House. I would point out that several times this Session our proceedings have terminated at 6 o'clock or 7 o'clock, and the Sittings have had to be suspended until the time for private Members' Motions to come on. That shows that the House has not been unduly loquacious. We have assisted the Government to get business through. In view of that, I think the Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury should meet us on that point. He can? If he can, will he say so?

§ Colonel WEDGWOOD
I think we might have a reply from the Treasury Bench to this question. All we want to 2207 know is that this Supplementary Estimate will not be taken late to-night and deprive us of an opportunity of debating the question of the Shanghai Defence Force.

§ The PRIME MINISTER
I am sure the two hon. and gallant Members who have spoken will realise our difficulty when these suggestions come from the back benches. When any request is put to us through the Leader of the party opposite, or through the usual channels, we are always anxious to do all we can to meet their convenience.

§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHY
May I explain that I only saw this Motion just before it was put, and there was no opportunity of consultation then.

§ Mr. MacDONALD
I only venture to rise to respond to the exceedingly courteous way in which the Prime Minister expressed himself just now. Otherwise, I should not have risen at all. I understood that this matter was in the hands of the Whips, that through the ordinary channels of communication it was being discussed, and that some agreement would be come to to-day, in view of the situation in which the Government find themselves. That is why I did not rise before. Had the Prime Minister not put it in such a very courteous way, I should not have risen at all.