§ Sir AUSTEN CHAMBERLAINMay I ask the Prime Minister, with regard to business, how far he intends to go tonight?
The PRIME MINSTERThe object of the suspension of the Eleven o'Clock Rule to-night is to enable effect to be given, after the disposal of the Second Reading of the Unemployment Insurance Bill, to the arrangement which was come to yesterday under which the Committee stage of the amended Money Resolution relating to the Agricultural Marketing Bill is to be disposed of to-day.
§ Sir A. CHAMBERLAINThere is evidently some misunderstanding. I may say that it happens that I was not here, and therefore I speak subject to correction. I have no wish to be dogmatic, but I can assure the Prime Minister that there is a misunderstanding, and that the arrangement which he proposes is not that which my hon. Friends understood to have been made last night. I think the right hon. Gentleman will find that the Minister in charge of the Resolution proposed to withdraw it. He did not suggest that the Committee stage of the new Resolution should be taken after eleven o'clock to-night, but that it should be fully discussed, and then the Report stage would be shortened in consequence of the further consideration given to it on the Committee stage.
§ The PRIME MINISTERI am sorry to say that I am in the same position as the right hon. Gentleman. I was not here myself last night, but what I have stated is the information that I have had given to me.
§ Sir A. CHAMBERLAINMay I suggest to the right hon. Gentleman that it is very undesirable that there should be any misunderstanding or doubt on this matter between the two sides of the House. May I suggest, without prejudice to the ultimate treatment of the Resolution, that the right hon. Gentleman should not make his Motion to-day, but should make it to-morrow, if necessary after consultation, and that through the usual channels he should try to come to an understanding as to what actually took place last night, and what was the result.
§ The PRIME MINISTERI am quite willing to accept the second part of the right hon. Gentleman's suggestion, but I am afraid that I must get my Motion in the event of an agreement being arrived at to facilitate business; otherwise, I shall not be able to use any time after eleven o'clock to-night.
§ Sir A. CHAMBERLAINWill the Prime Minister undertake, if he uses the suspension of the Eleven o'Clock Rule tonight to carry the Committee stage of this Resolution which appears on the Paper for the first time, to give time before eleven o'clock for the consideration of that Resolution upon Report.
§ The PRIME MINISTERIf the right hon. Gentleman would be good enough to leave it to a reasonable arrangement we have no desire to force anything, but I must get the suspension of the Eleven o'Clock Rule in order to facilitate business, and then the other part will be subject to the arrangements made through the usual channels.
§ Sir A. CHAMBERLAINThe right hon. Gentleman is rather suggesting that the fly should walk into his parlour, and discuss matters there. I shall rely upon the right hon. Gentleman, as I am sure that I may, to act fully up to the assurance which he has given as to the Report stage.
§ The PRIME MINISTERWith this proviso, that I have never known, on any Motion for the suspension of the Eleven o'Clock Rule, the flies to walk into the parlour; they have always been forced in.
§
Ordered,
That the Proceedings on Government Business be exempted, at this day's Sitting, from the provisions of the Standing Order (Sittings of the House)."—[The Prime Minister.]