BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE. (Hansard, 17 July 1930)

§ Mr. STANLEY BALDWIN
Can the Prime Minister announce the business to be taken next week?

§ The PRIME MINISTER
On Monday, we shall take Supply [17th Allotted Day], Navy Estimates; Coal Mines Bill, consideration of Lords reason for insisting on certain of their Amendments; Unemployment Insurance, Money Resolution, Report.
Tuesday: Finance Bill, Report.
Wednesday: Unemployment Insurance Bill, Second Reading; London Naval Treaty Bill, Second Reading; and further stages, which I believe are mainly formal, of the Public Works Facilities Bill and the Public Works Loans Bill.
Thursday: Supply [18th Allotted Day]. The Vote to be taken will be announced later.
1470 Friday: Finance Bill, which we hope will have reached the Third Reading stage.
The text of the London Naval Treaty Bill will be available to-morrow. It is hoped to complete the further stages of the Road Traffic Bill to-morrow, after the Unemployment Insurance, Money Resolution, which is the first Order on the Paper, has been disposed of.

§ Mr. BALDWIN
Is it necessary to take the London Naval Treaty Bill before the House rises for the Recess? Gould not that be taken in the autumn?

§ The PRIME MINISTER
I should like very much if that were possible. It has been put down, but I confess that I have not quite satisfied myself, except to this extent, that it undoubtedly has been the practice that legislation arising out of Treaties should be passed before the Treaties are ratified; but I do not think that it is quite necessary that it should be done. However, I will look into the matter further, and, if the right hon. Gentleman will put a further question to me, I will give him any final decision.

§ Mr. BALDWIN
The only other question which I want to raise relates to the Public Works Loans Bill. There is a very important question which arises from that Bill, and, if the London Naval Treaty Bill is taken, it looks as if the Public Works Loans Bill may come on very late. As there is an important principle involved, I should like to know whether there is any possibility of that Order being taken at a more convenient time. It looks as if it might be a very late sitting.

§ The PRIME MINISTER
That is perfectly true. What I have done in announcing the business for next week is to try to make a substantial contribution towards the rising of the House at the end of the week after next, and I hope that we shall all co-operate for that purpose. Certainly, I will do everything that I can to meet the convenience of hon. Members. Of course, if it is impossible, we shall have to take a day in the week following, but I hope that will not be necessary.

§ Sir AUSTEN CHAMBERLAIN
Will the right hon. Gentleman remember that on the Public Works Loans Bill the Government moved to report Progress. They took it out of an afternoon sitting by the Motion to report Progress. They must surely give the House a proper opportunity of discussing a question with which they themselves were not at that moment prepared to proceed.

§ The PRIME MINISTER
It was very nearly the end of the sitting when Progress was reported. I am hoping that the business connected with this Bill will be in such a stage when we bring it forward again that, so far as we are concerned, no great time will be required in order to get it through.

§ Sir A. CHAMBERLAIN
Does the right hon. Gentleman mean by that that he is going to make a change in the Bill??

§ The PRIME MINISTER
Certainly not; exactly the opposite.

§ Mr. BALDWIN
May I ask how far it is proposed to go with the Finance Bill to-night., so that we may have some guidance as to the length of the sitting?

§ The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER (Mr. Philip Snowden)
I am afraid that it is impossible for me to 1472 answer that question now, but, if it is addressed to me later, I shall be able to reply.