§ Mr. STANLEY BALDWINWould the Prime Minister kindly state what will be the business next week?
§ The PRIME MINISTEROn Monday and Tuesday the Widows', Orphans' and Old Age Contributory Pensions Bill will be further considered, it being understood that all stages of the Bill will be completed by Tuesday night. It is proposed to put down also on Monday the Committee stage of the Money Resolutions relating to the Highlands and Islands (Medical Service) and to Coast Erosion; and on Tuesday the Report stage of those two Resolutions.
On Thursday there will be the Second Reading of the Unemployment Insurance Bill, and the Committee stage of the necessary Money Resolution will be taken.
On any day, if time permits, other Orders will be taken.
Let me say, by way of explanation, that it is hoped that the Unemployment Insurance Bill will be circulated with an explanatory Memorandum with tomorrow morning's Votes, and that the Money Resolution will be on the Paper at latest by Tuesday of next week.
§ Mr. MACPHERSONDoes the Prime Minister propose to take the Highlands and Islands Resolution early in the day? Or is it to be taken late?
§ The PRIME MINISTERThat would be quite contrary to the arrangement that has been entered into.
§ Mr. BALDWINI would like to make one observation on Business. It is impossible for us to say, until we have seen the Unemployment Insurance Bill and the Financial Resolution, whether in our view the time allotted will be sufficient. I would point out to the House that it was the general practice when we were in office to take the Financial Resolution after the close of the Second Reading, or immediately following, but in any case, 2234 where the Financial Resolution was one which raised a very important issue in itself, we always gave it more time. With reference to this particular Bill, I can only say, not having seen it, that it is obvious that it is a Bill which will cover a good deal of ground, and there will be a number of questions in it which raise matters of genuine and legitimate interest in all quarters of the House, and it seems to me that there will be very ample material to discuss on the Bill during the period allocated to the Second Reading. Therefore, the Financial Resolution, which may raise a very important issue, and one which forms only a small part of the Bill itself, will probably require a great deal more time for discussion than will be possible if it is taken after Eleven o'clock.
§ The PRIME MINISTERAll these points were considered, and all that I have announced is that Thursday is to be allocated to this Bill. We will see when the Bill is circulated what will suit the convenience of all sides.
§ Mr. BALDWINThat may be quite right, but I only want to enter my caveat.
§ Sir K. WOODIs it not a little unfair, inasmuch as we have undertaken to complete on Tuesday the final stage of the Widows' Pensions Bill, to take other Orders?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI would draw the right hon. Gentleman's attention to the wording of my reply:
It is proposed to put down also on Monday.The right hon. Gentleman will find that we have no intention of doing anything except to carry out the arrangements, not only in the letter, but in the spirit.
§ Sir K. WOODWill the Prime Minister be present, if he can, on Tuesday for the Third Reading of the Widows' Pensions Bill, in order to deal with certain pledges of his which have been the subject of debate during the earlier proceedings on this Bill?
§ Sir W. MITCHELL-THOMSONIn order that there shall be no misunderstanding, may I ask if the intention is to put these Orders on the Paper, but not to take them after Eleven o'clock?
§ The PRIME MINISTERMy intention was to give notice that these Orders will be on the Paper. The Highlands and Islands (Medical Service) Bill is a very urgent Measure; so is the Coast Protection Bill, and as soon as this notice is given, I hope that the usual machinery will be put into operation for discussing these Orders.
§ Sir W. MITCHELL-THOMSONWe have given an undertaking that we will facilitate the business in order to get all the stages of the Widows' Pensions Bill through by Tuesday night, and it is largely for that purpose that the right hon. Gentleman has put down the Motion to suspend the Eleven o'clock Rule to-night, and proposes to put it down on Monday and Tuesday. Under these circumstances, it is unfair to the House to take other Orders.
§ The PRIME MINISTERThat is what I meant when I said that we will carry out not only the letter but the spirit of the arrangements. If they meet with any serious opposition, these Measures will not be taken.
§ Mr. BUCHANANThe Prime Minister has said that the Unemployment Insurance Bill is to be circulated to-morrow with the Papers, but the practice that Bills are given first to Members of the House is being constantly evaded by the Press publication of the particulars of Bills before Members of the House receive them. If the Press publication of the contents of this Bill be correct, there is the possible fact that the opposition is not likely to be confined to one quarter of the House and that the opposition will be considerable and sincere from other quarters, and, in view of that fact, will the Prime Minister reconsider taking the Second Reading Division after one day, and extend the Debate to two days?
§ The PRIME MINISTERIf my hon. Friend will look in the OFFICIAL REPORT, he will see that the question which he has put is covered by an answer which I have just given. With regard to leakage to the newspapers, the Government have more reason for complaining than anybody, and I know nothing what-ever about it. This is the first I have heard of this leakage, but it has not occurred merely in relation to this Bill.
§ Mr. BUCHANANIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that in the official organ of the Labour party to-day—[HON. MEMBERS: "It is not an official organ!"] There used to be one. In that paper to-day, there is what is given as an authentic outline of the particulars of this Bill, and I ask whether, in view of the fact that that could have been got from only one source, any steps can be taken to stop the practice of handing to other bodies particulars of a Bill which ought to be given to Members first?
§ The PRIME MINISTERNo hon. Member of this House has any right to accuse by implication any person or body of persons for having done a wrong thing. The Bill, or the contents of the Bill, have not been circulated by the authority of the Government.
Mr. LLOYD GEORGEI wish to associate myself with the cautionary observations made by the Leader of the Opposition, that it must not be assumed that hon. Members in this quarter of the House will be satisfied with one day's Debate until we have first seen the contents of the Unemployment Insurance Bill. We should also like to know whether the Financial Resolution is a serious commitment. If it is a serious financial commitment, we should not agree to it being taken late at night without any discussion.
§ The PRIME MINISTERI think that I have made myself perfectly clear on that point.
§
Motion made, and Question proposed,
That the Proceedings on the Widows', Orphans', and Old Age Contributory Pensions Bill 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.]
§ Mr. BALDWINMay I ask whether it is intended to sit late, or whether this Motion is merely intended for the convenience of the House?
§ Mr. BUCHANANOn a point of Order. Hitherto, as far as I know, Mr. Speaker has ruled that there can be no discussion on this Motion. Does that practice still continue?
§ Mr. SPEAKERUnder the Standing Orders, this particular Motion cannot be debated, and, if there be any question on it, it must not be in the form of a Debate.
§ The PRIME MINISTERThis Motion has been put down merely for the purposes of convenience. What I should like to see arranged with the other parties is how we are going to take the other stages of the Bill. The pledge has been given that this Bill will be carried through on Tuesday night, and I should like the other parties to inform us what they would like to do, how far they would like to go to-night, and so on, and I can assure them that that would be carried out. I want to suit the convenience of the House, and the Eleven o'clock Rule is to be suspended to enable the House to be free to make convenient arrangements.
§ Mr. BALDWINWe will not challenge the Motion.
§ Question put, and agreed to.
§
Ordered,
That the Proceedings on the Widows', Orphans', and Old Age Contributory Pensions Bill 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).