§ Mr. PETHICK-LAWRENCE(by Private Notice) asked the Prime Minister whether the changes in the Local Government Bill announced last night by the Minister of Health will involve a new Financial Resolution; if so, when it is proposed to take it; and, in view of the fact that the financial Clauses of the Bill are to be taken on the day after the reassembly of Parliament, when the Amendments proposed by the Minister will appear on the Order Paper?
Mr. CHAMBERLAINI have been asked to reply. The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative, and the second does not, therefore, arise. As regards the last part of the question, I propose to circulate during the Recess a White Paper indicating the Amendments in the Bill resulting from the modifications in the financial proposals referred to by the hon. Member.
§ Mr. PETHICK-LAWRENCEDoes the procedure indicated by the Minister give this House an opportunity of putting down Amendments to his Amendments which will appear on the Order Paper? Unless the Minister's Amendments appear on the Order Paper before the House reassembles, we shall be unable to put on the Paper any Amendments to his Amendments, and, in view of that, will he, through the usual channels, consider some modification of the arrangement?
Mr. CHAMBERLAINExcept in so far as the first day is concerned, of course there would be opportunities for hon. Members to put down their Amendments, because they could hand them in on the first day. I am not certain whether there are any Amendments with regard to the first day, but I will look into it.
Mr. PETHICK-LAWR ENCEI want to be quite clear. Do I understand that the Amendments will appear in the ordinary official form, so that it will possible on the Tuesday when we reassemble to put down detailed Amendments to them which will be in order and will appear on Wednesday morning?
Mr. CHAMBERLAINI do not think it is possible to hand in any Amendments after to-day, and I cannot see that we could get all the Amendments into form to hand in to-day. Therefore, I think a number of the Amendments will have to be handed in after the House reassembles, and the object of the White Paper is to give Members due notice before hand of what the Amendments will be, so that they can prepare any Amendments they desire to hand in. Any Amendments which actually have relation, not to the first day but to any subsequent day, could have Amendments to them handed in on the second day.
§ Mr. PETHICK-LAWRENCEThen we shall be faced with this position on the first day we reassemble, that if we want to have any Amendments on the Paper for Wednesday, the day when the financial Clauses will be taken, we shall have to hand in Amendments to those of the right hon. Gentleman, and unless those Amendments are already before the Committee in the form in which our Amendments can be submitted, it will not be possible for as to put down Amendments, because there will only be the White Paper.
§ Miss LAWRENCEWill the right hon. Gentleman answer another question? It is announced that the guarantee to non-county boroughs will be increased. Will the Minister explain how it is possible to do that without an Amendment to the Financial Resolution?
Mr. CHAMBERLAINAny question of that kind had better be discussed when we come to these particular Amendments.
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that he is treating the House very badly in this matter? No White Paper is available in the Vote Office, but details managed to get out to the Press last night, and is that treating the House with courtesy or propriety?
Mr. CHAMBERLAINThere was no opportunity of communicating these particular concessions to the House. What appeared in the Press was a statement which I sent to representatives of certain associations of local authorities, who had been to see me, and with whom I had conducted a conference.
§ Miss LAWRENCEDoes the Minister now insist upon taking these Clauses in half-a-day without giving the House an opportunity—
§ Mr. SPEAKERThat is raising again the question of the Time Table Resolution, which has already been decided by the House.
§ Mr. RAMSAY MacDONALDWill the right lion. Gentleman use his White Paper for the purpose of indicating precisely what his Amendments are, and where he proposes to insert them in the Bill?
§ Mr. PETHICK-LAWRENCEWill the White Paper be in such a form that it will be possible for Members to put down Amendments to the Amendments on the Tuesday when we meet?