HC Deb 06 December 1928 vol 223 cc1406-11
Mr. RAMSAY MacDONALD

May I ask the Prime Minister if he can state what business it is proposed to take next week?

The PRIME MINISTER

Monday: The remaining stages of the Imperial Telegraphs Bill; Report stage of the Superannuation (Diplomatic Service) Bill, and of the Appellate Jurisdiction Bill.

Tuesday: Motion to set up a time table for the remaining stages of the Local Government Bills.

Wednesday: Motion dealing with the Exchequer contributions under the Housing Acts.

In the event of the Motion allocating time for the Local Government Bills being passed by the House, Thursday will be the first Allotted Day in Committee on the English Bill.

The business for Friday will be announced later, and, if there is time on any day, other Orders will be taken.

Mr. MacDONALD

Would the Prime Minister say when the Motion to allocate time is to be put on the Paper?

The PRIME MINISTER

On Tuesday. The papers concerning it will be in the Vote Office to-morrow.

Mr. MacDONALD

When are we to know what the proposal is going to be?

The PRIME MINISTER

To-morrow.

Mr. MACPHERSON

May I ask my right hon. Friend whether he can conveniently state when it is proposed to take the Committee stage of the Local Government (Scotland) Bill, and whether the Committee stage of the English Local Government Bill will be finished before the Committee stage of the Scottish Bill begins?

The PRIME MINISTER

The only definite reply I can give to that is that the Scottish Bill will certainly not be taken in Committee this side of Christmas.

Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHY

Is there any precedent existing for introducing what is called a Guillotine Motion before any progress has been made on the Committee stage?

The PRIME MINISTER

Of course.

Mr. BUCHANAN

Will the Government's Motion apply to the Local Government (Scotland) Bill as well as to the English Bill, or only to the English Bill? Is it the intention to give a separate Guillotine Motion for Scotland?

The PRIME MINISTER

It will apply to both Bills.

Mr. BATEY

Has the Prime Minister considered the setting aside of a day next week for the purpose of discussing the distress in the mining areas, in view of the Debate and the answer Which was given on behalf of the Government last night being so unsatisfactory?

The PRIME MINISTER

No, Sir.

Mr. MACPHERSON

Will the Prime Minister not reconsider his proposal to take the discussion as to the allocation of time for both the Bills on Tuesday. Is my right hon. Friend aware that there will be an equally long discussion on the Scottish Bill, and will he consider the advisability of giving at least another half-day to the discussion of the Scottish Bill?

The PRIME MINISTER

There is so much ground in common that in this particular case there is a great deal of convenience in taking the two together.

Mr. BATEY

Does the Prime Minister consider it more important to discuss the Bill giving pensions to the diplomatic service than to discuss the distress in the mining areas?

Mr. SHINWELL

On a point of Order, Sir. I would like to ask for your Ruling as to whether it is competent for the Government to introduce one time-table Motion for two separate Measures, the English Local Government Bill and the Scottish Local Government Bill. Does the existence of two separate Measures not involve two separate Motions about the allocation of time?

Mr. SPEAKER

That is not a matter for me; that is a matter for the Government and the Leader of the House.

Mr. SHINWELL

What is the competent method by which this question can be raised? Is it by putting a question to the Government, or by putting down a Motion, or by making a submission to yourself, Mr. Speaker?

Mr. SPEAKER

The hon. Member can raise that point when the Motion comes on for discussion in the House.

Mr. SHINWELL

I wish to ask for your guidance, Mr. Speaker, on this question. How is it possible to raise this matter competently when the timetable Motion is before the House? Will it not be ruled out of Order?

Mr. SPEAKER

I should be sorry to give a Ruling in advance in regard to any Amendment which may be put down to the Motion. Of course, it is open to any hon. Member to put down an Amendment as soon as the terms of the Motion appear Oil the Paper.

Mr. E. BROWN

Will the Prime Minister state if, inside the terms of the Motion to be proposed on Tuesday, the Government propose to give an equal allocation of time for both Bills?

The PRIME MINISTER

That must depend on the course of business, and I have no control over that.

Mr. BROWN

Seeing that the Prime Minister has given notice to move a Motion applying the guillotine to both these Bills, ought not this House to know whether the time proposed is going to be equal in the case of both Bills?

Mr. SPEAKER

All these are matters for discussion when the Motion comes before the House.

Motion made, and Question put, That other Government Business have precedence this day of the Business of Supply."—[The Prime Minister.]

The House divided: Ayes, 205; Noes, 131.

Division No. 25.] AYES. [3.55 p.m.
Albery, Irving James Dean, Arthur Wellesley Looker, Herbert William
Amery, Rt. Hon. Leopold C. M. S. Drewe, C. Luce, Maj.-Gen. Sir Richard Harman
Applin, Colonel R. V. K. Edmondson, Major A. J. MacAndrew, Major Charles Glen
Ashley, Lt.-Col. Rt. Hon. Wilfrid W. Elliot, Major Walter E. Macdonald, Capt. P. D. (I. of W.)
Astor, Maj. Hn. John J. (Kent, Dover) Erskine, Lord (Somerset, Weston-s.-M.) McDonnell, Colonel Hon. Angus
Atholl, Duchess of Erskine, James Malcolm Monteith Macintyre, Ian
Baldwin, Rt. Hon. Stanley Evans, Captain A. (Cardiff, South) McLean, Major A.
Balniel, Lord Everard, W. Lindsay Macnaghten, Hon. Sir Malcolm
Barclay-Harvey, C. M. Falle, Sir Bertram G. Maitland, A. (Kent, Faversham)
Beamish, Rear-Admiral T. P. H. Fermoy, Lord Maitland, Sir Arthur D. Steel-
Beckett, Sir Gervase (Leeds, N.) Forrest, W. Makins, Brigadier-General E.
Bellairs, Commander Cariyon Foster, Sir Harry S. Margesson, Captain D.
Benn, Sir A. S. (Plymouth, Drake) Fraser, Captain Ian Marriott, Sir J. A. R.
Bennett. A. J. Gadle, Lieut.-Col. Anthony Merriman, Sir F. Boyd
Berry, Sir George Ganzoni, Sir John Milne, J. S. Wardlaw-
Betterton, Henry B. Gates, Percy Mitchell, W. Foot (Saffron Walden)
Bird, E. R. (Yorks, W. R., Skipton) Gault, Lieut.-Col. Andrew Hamilton Monsell, Eyres. Com. Rt. Hon. B. M.
Boothby, R. J. G. Gilmour, Lt.-Col. Rt. Hon. Sir John Moore, Lieut.-Colonel T. C. R. (Ayr)
Bourne, Captain Robert Croft Goff, Sir Park Moreing, Captain A. H.
Bowater, Col. Sir T. Vansittart Grant, Sir J. A. Nelson, Sir Frank
Bowyer, Capt. G. E. W. Grattan-Doyle. Sir N. Newman, Sir R. H. S. D. L. (Exeter)
Braithwaite, Major A. N. Gretton, Colonel Rt. Hon. John Newton, Sir D. G. C. (Cambridge)
Bridgeman, Rt. Hon. William Clive Grotrian, H. Brent Nicholson, O. (Westminster)
Briscoe, Richard George Guest, Capt. Rt. Hon. F. E. (Bristol, N.) Nicholson, Col. Rt. Hn. W. G. (Ptrsf'ld.)
Brittain, Sir Harry Guinness, Rt. Hon. Walter E. Nield, Rt. Hon. Sir Herbert
Brocklebank, C. E. R. Hacking, Douglas H. Nuttall, Ellis
Brooke, Brigadier-General C. R. I. Hall, Capt. W. D'A. (Brecon & Rad.) Oman, Sir Charles William C.
Brown, Brig.-Gen. H. C.(Berks, Newb'y) Hammersley, S. S. Ormsby-Gore, Rt. Hon. William
Buchan, John Hannon, Patrick Joseph Henry Penny, Frederick George
Buckingham, Sir H. Harland, A. Perkins, Colonel E. K.
Bull, Rt. Hon. Sir William James Hartington, Marquess of Perring, Sir William George
Bullock, Captain M. Harvey, G. (Lambeth, Kennington) Peto, G. (Somerset, Frome)
Burman, J. B. Harvey, Major S. E. (Devon, Totnes) Power, Sir John Cecil
Burton, Colonel H. W. Haslam, Henry C. Pownall, Sir Assheton
Cautley, Sir Henry S. Henderson. Capt. R. R. (Oxf'd, Henley) Preston, Sir Walter (Cheltenham)
Cayzer, Sir C. (Chester, City) Heneage, Lieut.-Colonel Arthur P. Price, Major C. W. M.
Cayzer, Maj. Sir Herbt. R. (Prtsmth, S.) Henn, Sir Sydney H. Radford, E. A.
Cazalet, Captain Victor A. Hennesey, Major Sir G. R. J. Raine, Sir Walter
Cecil, Rt. Hon. Sir Evelyn (Aston) Herbert, S. (York. N. R., Scar. & wh'by) Rentoul, G. S.
Chamberlain, Rt. Hon. N. (Ladywood) Hills, Major John Waller Rhys, Hon. C. A. U.
Charteris, Brigadier-General J. Hilton, Cecil Richardson. R. (Houghton-le-Spring)
Churchill, Rt. Hon. Winston Spenser Hope, Sir Harry (Forfar) Rodd, Rt. Hon. Sir James Rennell
Churchman, Sir Arthur C. Howard-Bury, Colonel C. K. Ruggles-Brise, Lieut.-Colonel E. A.
Clayton, G. C. Hume, Sir G. H. Russell, Alexander West (Tynemouth)
Cobb, Sir Cyril Hunter-Weston, Lt.-Gen. Sir Aylmer Salmon, Major I.
Cochrane, Commander Hon. A. D. Hurd, Percy A. Samuel, A. M. (Surrey, Farnham)
Cockerill, Brig.-General Sir George Hurst, Gerald B. Sandeman, N. Stewart
Colfox, Major Win. Phillips Illffe, Sir Edward M. Sanders, Sir Robert A.
Cooper, A. Duff Inskip, Sir Thomas Walker H. Sandon, Lord
Couper, J. B. Joynson-Hicks, Rt. Hon. Sir William Sassoon, Sir Philip Albert Gustave D.
Courthope, Colonel Sir G. L, King, Commodore Henry Douglas Savory, S. S.
Crooke, J Smedley (Derltend) Kinloch-Cooke, Sir Clement Shaw, R. G. (Yorks, W. R.. Sowerby)
Crookshank, Cpt. H. (Lindsey, Gainsbro) Knox, Sir Alfred Shaw, Lt.-Col. A. D. Mel. (Renfrew, W)
Culverwell, C. T. (Bristol, West) Lamb, J. Q. Sheffield, Sir Berkeley
Curzon, Captain Viscount Lister, Cunliffe-, Rt. Hon. Sir Philip Simms, Dr. John M. (Co. Down)
Davies, Sir Thomas (Cirencester) Locker-Lampson, Rt. Hon. Godfrey Skelton, A. N.
Davies, Dr. Vernon Locker-Lampson, Com. O.(Handsw'th) Smith, R. W. (Aberd'n & Kinc'dine, C.)
Davison, Sir W. H (Kensington, S.) Loder, J. de V. Smithers, Waldron
Spender-Clay, Colonel H. Titchfield, Major the Marquess of Windsor-Clive, Lieut.-Colonel George
Stanley, Lord (Fylde) Tryon, Rt. Hon. George Clement Wolmer, Viscount
Stott, Lieut.-Colonel W. H Vaughan-Morgan, Col. K. p. Womersley, W. J.
Streatfeild, Captain S. R. Wallace, Captain D. E. Wood, Rt. Hon. Sir Kingsley
Stuart, Crichton, Lord C. Warner, Brigadier-General W. W. Woodcock, Colonel H. C.
Stuart, Hon. J. (Moray and Nairn) Warrender, Sir Victor Worthington-Evans, Rt. Hon. Sir L.
Sueter, Rear-Admiral Murray Fraser Waterhouse, Captain Charles Wright, Brig.-General w. D.
Tasker, R. Inigo. Watson, Rt. Hon. W. (Carlisle)
Templeton, W. P. Watts, Sir Thomas TELLERS FOR THE AYES.—
Thorn, Lt.-Col. J. G. (Dumbarton) Wells, S. R. Major Sir William Cope and Mr. F. C. Thomson.
Thompson, Luke (Sunderland) White, Lieut.-Colonel G. Dairymple
Thomson, Rt. Hon. Sir W. Mitchell Williams, Com. C. (Devon, Torquay)
NOES.
Adamson, W. M. (Staff., Cannock) Harney, E. A. Salter, Dr. Alfred
Alexander. A. V. (Sheffield, Hillsbro') Harris, Percy A. Scurr, John
Ammon, Charles George Hayday, Arthur Sexton, James
Baker, Walter Henderson, Rt. Hon. A. (Burnley) Shaw, Rt. Hon. Thomas (Preston)
Barker, G. (Monmouth, Abertillery) Henderson, T. (Glasgow) Shepherd, Arthur Lewis
Barnes, A. Hirst, G. H. Shiels, Dr. Drummond
Barr, J. Hirst, W. (Bradford, South) Shinwell, E.
Batey, Joseph Hudson, J. H. (Huddersfield) Sinclair, Major Sir A. (Caithness)
Beckett, John (Gateshead) Hutchison, Sir Robert (Montrose) Smith, Rennie (Penistone)
Bellamy, A. Jenkins, W. (Glamorgan, Neath) Snell, Harry
Benn, Wedgwood John, William (Rhondda, West) Snowden, Rt. Hon. Philip
Bondfield, Margaret Jones, Morgan (Caerphilly) Stamford, T. W.
Briant, Frank Jones, T. I. Mardy (Pontypridd) Stephen, Campbell
Brown, Ernest (Leith) Kelly, W. T. Stewart. J. (St. Rollox)
Brown, James (Ayr and Bute) Kennedy, T. Sullivan, J.
Buchanan, G. Kenworthy, Lt.-Com. Hon. Joseph M. Sutton, J. E.
Buxton, Rt. Hon. Noel Kirkwood, D. Taylor, R. A.
Cape, Thomas Lansbury, George Thomas, Sir Robert John (Anglesey)
Charleton, H. C. Lawrence, Susan Thorne, W. (West Ham, Plaistow)
Cluse, W. S. Lawson, John James Thurtle, Ernest
Clynes, Rt. Hon. John R. Lee, F. Tinker, John Joseph
Compton, Joseph Livingstone, A. M. Tomlinson, R. P.
Cove, W. G. Longbottom, A. W. Townend, A. E.
Dalton, Hugh Lunn, William Trevelyan, Rt. Hon. Sir Charles
Davies, Evan (Ebbw Vale) MacDonald, Rt. Hon. J. R. (Aberavon) Viant, S. P.
Davies, Rhys John (Westhoughton) Mackinder, W. Wallhead, Richard C.
Day, Harry Macpherson, Rt. Hon. James I. Walsh, Rt. Hon. Stephen
Evans, Capt. Ernest (Welsh Univer.) Malone, C. L'Estrange (N'thampton) Watson, W. M. (Dunfermline)
Funby, T. D. March, S. Webb, Rt. Hon. Sidney
Garro-Jones, Captain G. M. Maxton, James Wedgwood, Rt. Hon. Josiah
Gibbins, Joseph Montague, Frederick Wellock, Wilfred
Gillett, George M. Mosley, Sir Oswald Welsh, J. C.
Gosling, Harry Murnin, H. Westwood, J.
Graham, D. M. (Lanark, Hamilton) Naylor, T. E. Williams, David (Swansea, East)
Graham, Rt. Hon. Wm. (Edin., Cent.) Owen, Major G. Williams, Dr. J. H. (Llanelly)
Greenall, T. Palin, John Henry Williams, T. (York, Don Valley)
Greenwood, A. (Nelson and Colne) Paling, W. Wilson, C. H. (Sheffield, Attercliffe)
Grenfell, D. R. (Glamorgan) Parkinson, John Allen (Wigan) Wilson, R. J. (Jarrow)
Griffith, F. Kingsley Pethick-Lawrence, P. W. Windsor, Walter
Griffiths, T. (Monmouth, Pontypool) Ponsonby, Arthur Wright, W.
Grundy, T. W. Potts, John S. Young, Robert (Lancaster, Newton)
Hall, F. (York. W. R., Normanton) Purcell, A. A.
Hall, G. H. (Merthyr Tydvil) Richardson, R. (Houghton-le-Spring) TELLERS FOR THE NOES.—
Hamilton, Sir R. (Orkney & Shetland) Riley, Ben Mr. Charles Edwards and Mr. Whitley.
Hardle, George D. Roberts. Rt. Hon. F. O. (W. Bromwich)