§ 33. Mr. CONNOLLYasked the Attorney-General whether the words civil establishments, in line 29, and civil servants, in line 31 of Clause 5 of the Trade Disputes and Trade Unions Bill, 1927, refer to Royal Dockyards and workmen?
§ The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER (Mr. Churchill)The matter referred to in the question will be dealt with at the Committee stage of the Bill.
§ Mr. CONNOLLYCan we not have an answer to the question, so that we may prepare for the Committee stage of the Bill? I am asking the meaning of certain words in the Clause. Surely we can have some indication of whether this Clause is going to cover thousands of men in His Majesty's Dockyards?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLIt is unusual to deal with matters of current legislation by question and answer. It is far better that these matters should be raised in the course of debate.
§ Lieut. - Commander KENWORTHYCan the right hon. Gentleman guarantee that an answer will be given in the course of debate? Is he aware that in the last Debate, perhaps because he did not speak, a great many questions were not answered?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLI am to take charge of this particular Clause, and I guarantee that the fullest possible information shall be available.
§ Mr. CONNOLLYHave the Government made up their minds as to whether these men are included or not?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLYes, Sir, and I am in a position to give an answer on this subject, but it is not a good procedure or Parliamentary example that the Order Paper should be used for putting points in connection with a Bill while it is still under the consideration of the House.
Commander WILLIAMSMay I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether he can guarantee that the Government will be allowed to give an answer upon this Bill?
§ Mr. CONNOLLYMay I ask for your ruling on this matter, Mr. Speaker? Am I in order in asking for a point of this kind to be defined before we come to the Committee stage of the Bill?
§ Mr. SPEAKERThe hon. Member is in order in asking the question, and that is why it appears on the Paper, but the Minister is equally in order in preferring to defer his reply to the Committee stage of the Bill.
§ Mr. E. BROWNWill the right hon. Gentleman bear in mind that if this class of man is included, an established dockyard man who loses his place will be unable to get a job in private yards?
§ Mr. SPEAKERThat is a matter of argument.
§ Captain GARRO-JONESIn view of the ambiguity of a large number of the terms in this Bill, will the right hon. Gentleman consider the desirability of publishing a glossary of the terms before the Committee stage?