The following Question stood on the Order Paper in the name of Sir ASSHERON POWNALL:3248. "To ask the Prime Minister whether he is aware that, although the House has sat for over a year, the following Measures foreshadowed in the Gracious Speech from the Throne have not been passed into law: Bills dealing with factory legislation, with slum clearance, with the Trade Disputes Act, 1927, and with the Washington Convention; and whether, in considering the legislation to be introduced in the next Session, he will see it is confined to such Measures as it may be reasonably expected can be passed into law?
§ Sir A. POWNALLThe words "with slum clearance" ought to be deleted from this question.
§ The PRIME MINISTER (Mr. Ramsay MacDonald)I hope that two of the Measures referred to in the hon. Member's question, namely, those dealing with Housing and Slum Clearance in England and Scotland will be passed into law before the end of the Session. As regards the other Measures, while the Government regret that they have not been able to, carry out their full programme, I would remind the House that throughout the Session, which is now drawing to a close, there has been no attempt to restrict discussion on any of the substantially important matters like the Finance Bill which have been brought before the House. With regard to next Session, the House will remember that it is proposed to set up a Select Committee to overhaul the whole question of Parliamentary procedure, and I can assure the hon. Member that His Majesty's Government will, while refraining from making excessive calls on the capacity of the House, do their best to attain at least the same standard of achievement as has been reached this Session.
§ Sir A. POWNALLIs it not the case that, with the exception of the other Measure in connection with slum clearance, the Coal Mines Bill is the only important Bill passed in the last year; and is the right hon. Gentleman satisfied with the legislative output of the Government?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI should never be satisfied with anything, but there are two first-class Measures, and, if the hon. Member compares that record with previous records, he will find that he ought to be satisfied as well as me.
§ Major COLVILLEDoes the right hon. Gentleman retain his desire for the Trade Disputes Bill?