OVERSEAS TRADE [GUARANTEES]. (Hansard, 20 November 1928)

§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHY

Before we take this Resolution, I should like to say one word of protest to the Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury. We have been sitting for only a fortnight of the new Session, and now we are taking important financial business at this hour of the night. I hope it is not going to be the practice of this last 1699 Session of the present Parliament for important financial proposals to be brought forward late at night. The growing loss of control by Parliament over public expenditure alarms all constitutional students, and as a Parliamentarian who upholds the Constitution, I desire to take this, the only opportunity I have, of protesting against the practice.

Mr. BENN

I remember, and we all remember, the time when it was not possible or competent for the Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury to take this business after Eleven o'clock. Then a Committee sat, and said that they did not see why an important thing like the Report stage of a Money Resolution should be interrupted at Eleven o'clock. They said that, but the Government Whip, with a commendable desire to get everything done as quickly as possible, has made it a rule never to introduce this business before Eleven. That is going a good deal further than the Committee ever intended. A very remarkable statement was made by the Secretary of the Overseas Trade Department in the Debate yesterday. We often say, and I have often said myself, that a certain amount of trade might be done with Russia, but the Government will not permit it to be done because of their political prejudices. I hear an hon. Member say that I am wrong, but that statement is made very frequently, and I will read to the House my basis for making that statement, which I shall repeat whenever I think it is germane. The Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department, speaking about the possible extension of trade with Russia, said this: There are, of course, political reasons, and I am not ashamed of political reasons; 1700 and there are questions of policy."—[OFFICIAL REPORT, 19th November, 1928; col. 1443, Vol. 222.] That is to say, that, apart from the business end, which he proceeded to discuss, and on which there is some division of opinion, whatever the trade is with Russia, whether it be big or little, he admits the reason why we cannot do it, and why pro tanto, people must be unemployed. There are, of course, political reasons and questions of policy. I wanted to make that point clear, because it must be discussed up and down the country in reference to unemployment, and it is a very good thing that we have had so frank a statement from the Minister who is specially qualified to tell us about the policy of the Government in regard to this matter.