HC Deb 12 December 1929 vol 233 cc670-7
Sir A. CHAMBERLAIN

Would the Prime Minister tell us what are now his proposals for business in the present sitting, and, with reference to that, will he give us an opportunity for discussing the very important statement which the Chancellor of the Exchequer has just announced that he would make before the Session ended; and, further, what business it is proposed to take when the House resumes its sitting after Christmas?

The PRIME MINISTER

Perhaps I might deal, first, with the middle question. I would advise the right hon. Gentleman to wait until he hears the statement before criticising it in the sense that it will require to be discussed in the House. When the statement is made, if the right hon. Gentleman cares to repeat his question, I shall gladly give him an answer. Regarding business—

Sir A. CHAMBERLAIN

May I ask what opportunity the Chancellor of the Exchequer proposes to use for making his statement?

Mr. SNOWDEN

The right hon. Gentleman is really exaggerating the importance of the statement. He must wait and hear it. Probably the most convenient way will be to make my statement in answer to a question.

Sir A. CHAMBERLAIN

The right hon. Gentleman had a question put to him to-day with regard to the anxiety caused by a previous statement of his, I think in November, that certain Duties would be repealed. To-day, he says that he is considering methods which will allay any anxiety if those Duties are repealed. Surely, the House must have some opportunity of discussing, and if necessary criticising, these suggestions which he proposes to make. I ask for that opportunity.

The PRIME MINISTER

The whole point is that these suggestions will not come into operation until after the Budget. I should advise the right hon. Gentleman to wait until he sees what takes place. With regard to business, as a result of conversations up to now through the usual channels, the following is the programme of business up to Christmas which I am able to announce:

Monday: Unemployment Insurance (No. 2) Bill, completion of further stages; Supplementary Estimates—the Ministry of Labour and Department of Health (Scotland); and the formal setting up of the Committee of Ways and Means will follow.

Tuesday: Coal Mines Bill, Second Reading; Reports of Supplementary Estimates taken on the 16th, and of Ways and Means Resolutions.

Wednesday: Consolidated Fund Bill, Second Beading, after Private Member's Motions have been disposed of.

Thursday: Coal Mines Bill, completion of Second Reading Debate, followed by the Consolidated Fund Bill further stages.

Friday: Report stage of Supplementary Estimate for the salary of the Lord Privy Seal.

Monday (23rd): Available for discussion of the Government Policy. I understand that the Opposition would like to, raise the questions of Egypt, and the Singapore base.

Tuesday (24th): The House will meet at 11 a.m. and the Motion for the Adjournment will be taken.

On any day, if time permits, other Orders will be taken. The House will resume on 21st January, and the programme for the first week will be:

Tuesday, 21st January: Arbitration (Foreign Awards) Bill, further stages. Committee of Supply—Supplementary Estimates: (1) Ministry of Labour; (2) Sugar Beet Subsidy. These Supplementary Estimates providing the money required to implement the Unemployment Insurance Bill now before Parliament, and additional money for the Sugar Beet Subsidy, will it is hoped, be in the hands of Members before the Recess.

Thursday, 23rd January: Land Drainage (Scotland) Bill, Second Reading and Money Resolution; Report of Supplementary Estimates taken on the 21st. I repeat the usual safeguard, that on any day, if time permits, other Orders will be taken.

Sir A. CHAMBERLAIN

Obviously, I cannot discuss the programme of the right hon. Gentleman. He used a rather careful phrase in his opening observations, that, as a result of conversations, he was enabled to announce that this would be the programme. No one must suppose that it is an agreed programme. We think it is really an outrage on the House of Commons that, with regard to the Bill which is before us, discussion in a party caucus should be substituted for discussion on the Floor of the House, and that the right hon. Gentleman should propose to take £3,500,000 of Supplementary Estimates after Eleven o'clock. With regard to Monday, 23rd December, we desire to reserve our rights to raise whatever questions we like. May I ask the right hon. Gentleman what he proposes to do with Private Members' time on Friday?

The PRIME MINISTER

That is Friday of next week. Up to the present nothing has been put down, but we will safeguard ourselves between now and Friday.

Sir A. CHAMBERLAIN

According to my information, the right hon. Gentleman is mistaken in saying that there is nothing put down. However that may be, can he tell us when he proposes to move the Motion to take Private Members' time?

The PRIME MINISTER

Not yet.

Mr. D. G. SOMERVILLE

Arising out of the statement on business, will the statement that is to be made by the Chancellor of the Exchequer allay the uncertainty as to the fate of certain Duties after the next Budget?

Mr. SPEAKAR

A similar question has already been answered.

Motion made, and Question put, That other Government Business have precedence this day of the Business of

Supply, and be exempted, at this day's Sitting, from the provisions of the Standing Order (Sittings of the House)."—[The Prime Minister.]

The House divided: Ayes, 273; Noes, 203.

Division No. 90.] AYES. [3.58 p.m.
Adamson, Rt. Hon. W. (Fife, West) Graham, Rt. Hon. Wm. (Edin., Cent.) Mander, Geoffrey le M.
Adamson, W. M. (Staff., Cannock) Granville, E. Mansfield, W.
Aitchison, Rt. Hon. Craigie M. Gray, Milner Marcus, M.
Alpass, J. H. Greenwood, Rt. Hon. A. (Colne) Markham, S. F.
Angell, Norman Grenfell, D. R. (Glamorgan) Marley, J.
Arnott, John Griffiths, T. (Monmouth, Pontypool) Mathers, George
Attlee, Clement Richard Groves, Thomas E. Matters, L. W.
Ayles, Walter Grundy, Thomas W. Maxton, James
Baker, John (Wolverhampton, Bilston) Hall, F. (York, W.R., Normanton) Messer, Fred
Baldwin, Oliver (Dudley) Hall, G. H. (Merthyr Tydvil) Middleton, G.
Barnes, Alfred John Hall, Capt. W. P. (Portsmouth, C.) Milner. J.
Barr, James Hamilton, Sir R. (Orkney & Zetland) Morgan, Dr. H. B.
Batey, Joseph Harbison, T. J. Morris-Jones, Dr. J. H. (Denbigh)
Beckett, John (Camberwell, Peckham) Hardie, George D. Morrison, Herbert (Hackney, South)
Bellamy, Albert Harris, Percy A. Morrison, Robert C. (Tottenham, N.)
Benn, Rt. Hon. Wedgwood Hartshorn, Rt. Hon. Vernon Mort, D. L.
Bennett, Capt. E. N. (Cardiff, Central) Hastings, Dr. Somerville Moses, J. J. H.
Bennett, William (Battersea, South) Haycock, A. W. Muff, G.
Benson, G. Hayday, Arthur Muggeridge, H. T.
Bentham, Dr. Ethel Henderson, Right Hon. A. (Burnley) Murnin, Hugh
Bevan, Aneurin (Ebbw Vale) Henderson, W. W. (Middx., Enfield) Nathan, Major H. L.
Bondfield, Rt. Hon. Margaret Harriotts, J. Oldfield, J. R.
Bowerman, Rt. Hon. Charles W. Hirst, G. H. (York W. R. Wentworth) Oliver, George Harold (Ilkeston)
Brockway, A. Fenner Hirst, W. (Bradford, South) Oliver, P. M. (Man., Blackley)
Bromfield, William Hoffman, P. C. Owen, Major G. (Carnarvon)
Brooke, W. Hollins, A. Palin, John Henry
Brothers, M. Hore-Belisha, Leslie. Paling, Wilfrid
Brown, Ernest (Leith) Hudson, James H. (Huddersfield) Palmer, E. T.
Brown, James (Ayr and Bute) Hunter, Dr. Joseph Parkinson, John Allen (Wigan)
Brown, W. J. (Wolverhampton, West) Hutchison. Maj.-Gen. Sir R. Perry, S. F.
Buchanan, G. Isaacs. George Peters, Dr. Sidney John
Burgess, F. G. Jenkins. W. (Glamorgan, Neath) Pethick-Lawrence, F. W.
Buxton, C. R. (Yorks, W. R. Elland) John, William (Rhondda, West) Picton-Turbervill, Edith
Buxton, Rt. Hon. Noel (Norfolk, N.) Jones, F. Llewellyn (Flint) Pole, Major D. G.
Calne, Derwent Hall. Jones, Rt. Hon. Leif (Camborne) Ponsonby, Arthur
Cameron, A. G. Jones, Morgan (Caerphilly) Potts, John S.
Cape, Thomas Jones, T. I. Mardy (Pontypridd) Price, M. P.
Carter, W. (St. Pancras, S.W.) Jowett, Rt. Hon. F. W. Quibell, D. J. K.
Charleton, H. C. Jowitt, Rt. Hon. Sir W. A. Ramsay, T. B. Wilson
Cluse, W. S. Kedward, R. M. (Kent, Ashlord) Rathbone, Eleanor
Clynes, Rt. Hon. John R. Kennedy, Thomas Raynes, W. R.
Cocks, Frederick Seymour Kinley, J. Richardson, R. (Houghton-le-Spring)
Compton, Joseph Kirkwood, D Riley, Ben (Dewsbury)
Cove, William G. Knight, Holford Ritson, J.
Daggar, George Lang, Gordon Roberts, Rt. Hon. F. O. (W. Bromwich)
Dallas, George Lathan, G. Romerll, H. G.
Dalton, Hugh Law, Albert (Bolton) Rosbotham, D. S. T.
Davies, Rhys John (Westhoughton) Law, A. (Rosendale) Rowson, Guy
Day, Harry Lawrence, Susan Runciman, Rt. Hon. Walter
Denman, Hon. R. D. Lawrie, Hugh Hartley (Stalybridge) Salter, Dr. Alfred
Devlin, Joseph Lawson, John James Samuel, Rt. Hon. Sir H. (Darwen)
Dickson, T. Lawther. W. (Barnard Castle) Samuel, H. W. (Swansea, West)
Dudgeon, Major C. R. Leach, W. Sanders, W. S.
Dukes, C. Lee. Frank (Derby, N.E.) Sandham, E.
Duncan, Charles Lee, Jennie (Lanark, Northern) Sawyer, G. F.
Ede, James Chuter Lees, J. Scott, James
Edge, Sir William Lewis, T. (Southampton) Scrymgeour, E.
Edmunds, J. E. Lindley, Fred W. Scurr, John
Edwards, C. (Monmouth, Bedwellty) Lloyd, C. Ellis Sexton, James
Egan, W. H. Longbottom, A. W. Shaw, Rt. Hon. Thomas (Preston)
Eimley, Viscount Longden, F. Shepherd, Arthur Lewis
Foot, Isaac Lovat-Fraser, J. A. Sherwood, G. H.
Forgan, Dr. Robert Lowth, Thomas Shield, George William
Freeman, Peter Lunn, William Shiels, Dr. Drummond
Gardner, B. W. (West Ham, Upton) Macdonald, Gordon (Ince) Shillaker, J. F.
George, Rt. Hon. D. Lloyd (Car'vn) MacDonald, Rt. Hon. J. R. (Seaham) Shinwell. E.
George, Major G. Lloyd (Pembroke) McElwee, A. Short, Alfred (Wednesbury)
George, Megan Lloyd (Atiglesea) McEntee, V. L. Simmons, C. J.
Gibbins, Joseph Mackinder, W. Simon, E. D. (Manch'ter, Withington)
Gill, T. H. McKinlay, A. Sinclair, Sir A. (Caithness)
Glassey, A. E. MacNeill-Weir, L. Sinkinson, George
Gosling, Harry Macpherson, Rt. Hon. James I. Smith, Alfred (Sunderland)
Gossling, A. G. McShane, John James Smith, Ben (Bermondsey, Rotherhithe)
Gould, F. Malone, C. L'Estrange (N'thampton) Smith, Frank (Nuneaton)
Smith, H. B. Lees (Keighley) Tinker, John Joseph Welsh, James C. (Coatbridge)
Smith, Rennie (Penistone) Toole, Joseph West, F. R.
Smith, Tom (Pontefract) Tout, W. J. Wheatley, Rt. Han. J.
Snowden, Rt. Hon. Philip Townend, A. E. Whiteley, Wilfrid (Birm., Ladywood)
Snowden, Thomas (Accrington) Trevelyan, Rt. Hon. Sir Charles Whiteley, William (Blaydon)
Sorensen, R. Turner, B. Wilkinson, Ellen C.
Spero, Or. G. E. Vaughan, D. J. Williams, David (Swansea, East)
Stamford, Thomas W. Viant, S. P. Williams, T. (York, Don Valley)
Stephen, Campbell Walker, J. Wilson, C. H. (Sheffield. Attercliffe)
Stewart, J. (St. Rollox) Wallace, H. W. Wilson. R. J. Narrow)
Strachey, E. J. St. Loe Wallhead, Richard C. Winterton. G. E. (Leicester, Loughb'gh)
Strauss, G. R. Walters, Rt. Hon. Sir J. Tudor Wise, E. F.
Sullivan, J. Watkins, F. C. Wood, Major McKenzie (Banff)
Sutton, J. E. Watson, W. M. (Dunfermline). Wright, W. (Ruthergien)
Taylor, W. B. (Norfolk, S.W.) Watts-Morgan, Lt.-Col. D. (Rhondda) Young, R. S. (Islington, North)
Thomas, Rt. Hon. J. H. (Derby) Wedgwood, Rt. Hon. Josiah
Thurtle, Ernest Wellock, Wilfred TELLERS FOR THE AYES.—
Tillett, Ben Welsh, James (Paisley) Mr. Hayes and Mr. T. Henderson.
NOES.
Acland-Troyte, Lieut.-Colonel Elliot, Major Walter E. Mitchell-Thomson, Rt. Hon. Sir W.
Alnsworth, Lieut.-Col. Charles Erskine, Lord (Somerset, Weston-s. M.) Mond, Hon. Henry
Albery, Irving James Everard, W. Lindsay Monsell, Eyres, Com. Rt. Hon. Sir B.
Alexander, Sir Wm. (Glasgow, Cent'I) Falle, Sir Bertram G. Moore, Sir Newton J. (Richmond)
Allen, Sir J. Sandeman (Liverp'I., W.) Ferguson, Sir John Moore, Lieut.-Colonel T. C. R. (Ayr)
Allen, W. E. D. (Belfast, W.) Fielden, E. B. Morrison, Hugh (Wilts, Salisbury)
Amery, Rt. Hon. Leopold C. M. S. Fison, F. G. Clavering Morrison, W. S. (Glos., Cirencester)
Astor, Maj. Hn. John J. (Kent, Dover) Fremantle, Lieut. Colonel Francis E Morrison-Bell, Sir Arthur Clive
Atholl, Duchess of Galbralth, J. F. W. Muirhead, A. J.
Baillie-Hamilton, Hon. Charles W. Ganzonl, Sir John Newton, Sir D. G. C. (Cambridge)
Balniel, Lord Gault, Lieut.-Col. Andrew Hamilton Nicholson, O. (Westminster)
Beamish, Rear-Admiral T. P. H. Gibson, C. G. (Pudsey & Otley) Nicholson, Col. Rt. Hn. W. G. (Ptrsf'Id)
Beaumont, M, W. Glyn, Major R. G. C. Nield, Rt. Hon. Sir Herbert
Berry, Sir George Gower, Sir Robert Oman, Sir Charles William C.
Bevan, S. J. (Holborn) Grace, John O'Neill, Sir H.
Bird, Ernest Roy Graham, Fergus (Cumberland, N.) Ormsby-Gore, Rt. Hon. William
Bourne, Captain Robert Croft Grattan-Doyle, Sir N. Peake, Capt. Osbert
Bowater, Col. Sir T. Vansittart Greene, W. P. Crawford Penny, Sir George
Bowyer, Captain Sir George E. W. Grenfell, Edward C. (City of London) Percy, Lord Eustace (Hastings)
Boyce, H. L. Gretton, Colonel Rt. Hon. John Peto, Sir Basil E. (Devon, Barnstaple)
Bracken, B. Gunston, Captain D. W. Pilditch, Sir Philip
Brass, Captain Sir William Hacking, Rt. Hon. Douglas H. Power, Sir John Cecil
Briscoe, Richard George Hall, Lieut.-Col. Sir F. (Duiwich) Pownall, Sir Assheton
Brown, Col. D. C. (N'th'I'd'., Hexham) Hamilton, Sir George (llford) Purbrick, R.
Brown, Brig.-Gen. H. C. (Berks, Newb'y) Hannon, Patrick Joseph Henry Ramsbotham, H.
Buchan, John Hartington, Marquess of Rawson, Sir Cooper
Buckingham, Sir H. Harvey, Major S. E. (Devon, Totnes) Reid, David D. (County Down)
Bullock, Captain Malcolm Haslam, Henry C. Remer, John R.
Burton, Colonel H. W. Henderson, Capt. R. R. (Oxf'd, Henley) Rentoul, Sir Gervais S.
Butler, R. A. Heneage, Lieut.-Colonel Arthur P. Roberts, Sir Samuel (Ecciesall)
Cadogan, Major Hon. Edward Herbert, Sir Dennis (Hertford) Rodd, Rt. Hon. Sir James Rennell
Carver, Major W. H. Herbert, S. (York, N. R. Scar. & Wh'by) Ross, Major Ronald D.
Castle Stewart, Earl of Hills, Major Rt. Hon. John Waller Ruggies-Brise, Lieut.-Colonel E. A.
Cautley, Sir Henry S. Hoare, Lt.-Col. Rt. Hon. Sir S. J. G. Russell, Alexander West (Tynemouth)
Cayzer, Maj. Sir Herbt. R. (Prtsmth, S.) Hope, Sir Harry (Forfar) Salmon, Major I.
Cazalet, Captain Victor A. Home, Rt. Hon. Sir Robert S. Samuel, A. M. (Surrey, Farnham)
Chadwick, Sir Robert Burton Howard-Bury, Colonel C. K. Sandeman, Sir N. Stewart
Chamberlain, Rt. Hn. Sir J. A. (Birm., W.) Hudson, Capt. A. U. M. (Hackney. N.) Sassoon, Rt. Hon. Sir Philip A. G. D.
Chapman, Sir S. Hurd, Percy A. Savery, S S.
Christie, J. A. Hurst, Sir Gerald B. Shepperson, Sir Ernest Whittome
Churchill, Rt. Hon. Winston Spencer Iveagh, Countess of Skelton, A. N.
Cockerill, Brig.-General Sir George James, Lieut.-Colonel Hon. Cuthbert Smith, Louis W. (Sheffield. Hallam)
Cohen, Major J. Brunei Kindersley, Major G. M. Smith, R. W. (Aberd'n & Kinc'dine, C.)
Colfox, Major William Philip King, Commodore Rt. Hon. Henry D. Smith-Carington, Neville W.
Colman, N. C. D. Knox, Sir Alfred Smithers, Waldron
Colville, Major D. J. Lamb, Sir J. Q. Somerville, A. A. (Windsor)
Conway, Sir W. Martin Lane Fox, Col. Rt. Hon. George R. Somerville, D. G. (Willesden, East)
Courtauld, Major J. S. Leigh, Sir John (Clapham) Southby, Commander A. R. J.
Courthope, Colonel Sir G. L. Leighton, Major B. E. P. Spender-Clay, Colonel H.
Cranbourne, Viscount Lewis, Oswald (Colchester) Stanley, Maj. Hon. O. (W'morland)
Crichton-Stuart, Lord C. Liewellin, Major J. J. Steel-Maitland, Rt. Hon. Sir Arthur
Croft, Brigadier-General Sir H. Locker-Lampson, Com. O. (Handsw'th) Stewart, W. J. (Belfast South)
Crookshank, Capt. H. C. Long, Major Eric Stuart, J. C. (Moray and Nairn)
Culverwell, C. T. (Bristol, West) Lymington, Viscount Sueter, Rear-Admiral M. F.
Cunliffe-Lister, Rt. Hon. Sir Philip Macdonald, Capt. P. D. (I. of W.) Thomas, Major L. B. (King's Norton)
Dalkeith, Earl of Macquisten, F. A. Tinne, J. A.
Davies, Maj. Geo. F. (Somerset, Yeovil) MacRobert, Rt. Hon. Alexander M. Titchfield, Major the Marquess of
Davison, Sir W. H. (Kensington, S.) Maitland, A. (Kent, Faversham) Train, J.
Dixey, A. C. Makins, Brigadier-General E. Tryon, Rt. Hon. George Clement
Duckworth, G. A. V. Marjoribanks, E. C. Turton, Robert Hugh
Dugdale, Capt. T. L. Mason, Colonel Glyn K. Vaughan-Morgan, Sir Kenyon
Eden, Captain Anthony Meller, R. J. Wallace, Capt. D. E. (Hornsey)
Edmondson, Major A. J. Mitchell, Sir W. Lane (Streatham) Ward, Lieut.-Col. Sir A. Lambert
Wardlaw-Milne, J. S. Windsor-Cilve, Lieut.-Colonel George Worthington-Evans, Rt. Hon. Sir L.
Warrender, Sir Victor Winterton, Rt. Hon. Earl Young, Rt. Hon. Sir Hilton
Water-house, Captain Charles Withers, Sir John James
Wells, Sydney R. Wolmer, Rt. Hon. Viscount TELLERS FOR THE NOES.—
Williams, Com. C. (Devon, Torquay) Womersley, W. J. Major Sir George Hennessy and
Wilson, G. H. A. (Cambridge U.) Wood, Rt. Hon. Sir Kingsley Captain Margesson.