HC Deb 26 February 1931 vol 248 cc2289-94
Mr. STANLEY BALDWIN

Before the Chancellor of the Exchequer tells us what the business will be for next week, will he state how far he intends to go to-night in the event of the Motion to suspend the Eleven o'Clock Rule standing in his name being carried.

Mr. P. SNOWDEN

It is proposed to dispose of the outstanding Supply on the Paper to-night, and also the Second Reading, and the Money Resolution of the Ancient Monuments Bill. The business for next week will be:

Monday: The Motion standing in the name of the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs approving Accession to the General Act of 1928 for the Pacific Settlement of International Disputes.

Tuesday: The Motion setting up a time-table for the further stages of the Representation of the People (No. 2) Bill.

In the event of this Motion being carried, Wednesday and Thursday will be the 1st and 2nd Allotted Days of the Committee Stage of the Representation of the People (No. 2) Bill.

Friday: Private Members' Bills.

On any day, should time permit, other Orders may be taken.

Mr. BALDWIN

My right hon. Friend the Member for West Birmingham (Sir A. Chamberlain) has an observation to make on the first item of business. In regard to the business for Tuesday, at this moment I can only protest most strongly against the course which has been announced. So far as I know, that course has never been taken before in this House on a Bill dealing with the franchise. It would not be in Order for me at this moment to adduce any reasons for my objection to that course being taken, and I will content myself by saying that we have the strongest objection to a proceeding which we consider most improper.

Sir AUSTEN CHAMBERLAIN

With regard to the business for Monday next, I suppose we may assume that in any case the Motion will not be taken unless the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs is able to be in his place on the day on which it is taken. I assume that. Apart from that, I enter a very earnest protest against taking the Motion on Monday, because it refers to a document and a Memorandum by the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs which has been ordered to be presented as a Command Paper. I have just been able to obtain a copy at the Vote Office but that Paper has not yet been circulated and no orders have been given for its circulation. I think that a document of this importance ought to have been circulated to all Members of the House. I have ascertained that the document will not even appear on the Pink Paper for Members until Saturday. I submit that it is not reasonable, in these circumstances, for the Government to ask us to discuss this question at such short notice on Monday next.

Mr. SNOWDEN

After the advertisement given to the fact by the right hon. Gentleman, there will now be Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday—four days—for the consideration, and surely that will be sufficient time.

Sir A. CHAMBERLAIN

I would appeal again to the right hon. Gentleman to give a little more consideration to those who are interested in this matter. It would not have been unreasonable to expect that, following the usual precedent in a matter of this importance, the Government should have directed that the Papers should be circulated without requiring a special application on a Pink Paper. Apart from that, the right hon. Member must remember that we are interested in more subjects than one which comes before this House. There are some of us who will desire to familiarise ourselves with this question, and also prepare ourselves for the Debate on the Franchise Bill. I do once again appeal to him for a little more time. I think it is not an unreasonable request.

Mr. SNOWDEN

We are, of course, always anxious to meet the Opposition in these matters, but I think the request of the right hon. Gentleman to-day has not much foundation. It is a subject with which those who are particu- larly interested in this matter have long been familiar. I cannot believe that a great deal of time is necessary. It has been announced that the subject will be taken before Easter, and I am afraid that we cannot alter the programme.

Captain EDEN

Has the right hon. Gentleman read this himself, and can he say how many Articles there are?

Major-General Sir ROBERT HUTCHISON

With reference to the very important business which is to take place next week, may I ask you, Mr. Speaker, for your protection and advice with regard to the Standing Committees upstairs? To-day we sat for over two hours on Standing Committee B, and we are called upon to sit again this afternoon from five o'clock until seven o'clock. Committee C is also sitting this afternoon on the Trade Disputes Bill. No

doubt the same thing will occur next week when these very important matters have to be discussed on the Floor of the House. I know perfectly well that it is not primarily a matter for you to deal with Committees upstairs, but I do think that the time of Members who are extremely interested in what is going on in this House should not be unduly taken for Committee work upstairs in the afternoons.

Mr. SPEAKER

That matter is out of my hands. It rests entirely with the Chairmen and the Committees upstairs to make their own arrangements.

Motion made, and Question put, That the Proceedings on Government Business be exempted, at this day's Sitting, from the provisions of the Standing Order (Sittings of the House)."—[Mr. P. Snowden.]

The House divided: Ayes, 238; Noes, 139.

Division No. 171.] AYES. [4.5 p.m.
Adamson, Rt. Hon. W. (Fife, West) Ede, James Chuter Jones, J. J. (West Ham, Silvertown)
Adamson, W. M. (Staff., Cannock) Edge, Sir William Jones, Rt. Hon. Leif (Camborne)
Addison, Rt. Hon. Dr. Christopher Edwards, C. (Monmouth, Bedwellty) Jones, Morgan (Caerphilly)
Alpass, J. H. Edwards, E. (Morpeth) Jowett, Rt. Hon. F. W.
Ammon, Charles George Elmley, Viscount Kedward, R. M. (Kent, Ashford)
Arnott, John England, Colonel A. Kelly, W. T.
Attlee, Clement Richard Evans, Capt. Ernest (Welch Univer.) Kennedy, Rt. Hon. Thomas
Ayles, Walter Foot, Isaac Kenworthy, Lt.-Com. Hon. Joseph M
Barnes, Alfred John Freeman, Peter Knight, Holford
Barr, James Gardner, B. W. (West Ham, Upton) Lansbury, Rt. Hon. George
Batey, Joseph Gardner, J. P. (Hammersmith, N.) Lathan, G.
Benn, Rt. Hon. Wedgwood Gibson, H. M. (Lancs, Mossley) Law, Albert (Bolton)
Bennett, William (Battersea, South) Gill, T. H. Law, A. (Rossendale)
Benson, G. Gillett, George M. Lawrence, Susan
Blindell, James Gossling, A. G. Lawson, John James
Bondfield, Rt. Hon. Margaret Gould, F. Lawther, W. (Barnard Castle)
Bowen, J. W. Graham, D. M. (Lanark, Hamilton) Leach, W.
Bowerman, Rt. Hon. Charles W. Graham, Rt. Hon. Wm. (Edin., Cent.) Lee, Frank (Derby, N.E.)
Broad, Francis Alfred Granville, E. Lee, Jennie (Lanark, Northern)
Bromfield, William Gray, Milner Lewis, T. (Southampton)
Bromley, J. Greenwood, Rt. Hon. A. (Colne) Longbottom, A. W.
Brooke, W. Grenfell, D. R. (Glamorgan) Longden, F.
Brothers, M. Griffith, F. Kingsley (Middlesbro' W.) Lovat-Fraser, J. A.
Brown, Ernest (Leith) Griffiths, T. (Monmouth, Pontypool) Lowth, Thomas
Brown, Rt. Hon. J. (South Ayrshire) Groves, Thomas E. Lunn, William
Burgess, F. G. Grundy, Thomas W. Macdonald, Gordon (Ince)
Buxton, C. R. (Yorks, W. R. Elland) Hall, J. H. (Whitechapel) MacDonald, Malcolm (Bassetlaw)
Cameron, A. G. Hamilton, Mary Agnes (Blackburn) McElwee, A.
Cape, Thomas Hamilton, Sir R. (Orkney & Zetland) McGovern, J. (Glasgow, Shettleston)
Carter, W. (St. Pancras, S.W.) Hardie, George D. McKinlay, A.
Charleton, H. C. Hastings, Dr. Somerville MacLaren, Andrew
Chater, Daniel Haycock, A. W. Maclean, Neil (Glasgow, Govan)
Clarke, J. S. Hayday, Arthur MacNeill-Weir, L.
Cluse, W. S. Henderson, Arthur, Junr. (Cardiff, S.) Macpherson, Rt. Hon James I.
Clynes, Rt. Hon. John R. Henderson, Thomas (Glasgow) McShane, John James
Cocks, Frederick Seymour Henderson, W. W. (Middx., Enfield) Malone, C. L'Estrange (N'thampton)
Compton, Joseph Herriotts, J. Mander, Geoffrey le M.
Cove, William G. Hirst, G. H. (York W. R. Wentworth) Manning, E. L.
Cripps, Sir Stafford Hirst, W. (Bradford, South) Marcus, M.
Daggar, George Hoffman, P. C. Marley, J.
Dallas, George Hopkin, Daniel Marshall, Fred
Dalton, Hugh Hore-Belisha, Leslie Mathers, George
Davies, Rhys John (Westhoughton) Horrabin, J. F. Matters, L. W.
Day, Harry Hudson, James H. (Huddersfield) Maxton, James
Denman, Hon. R. D. Hunter, Dr. Joseph Middleton, G.
Devlin, Joseph Hutchison, Maj.-Gen. Sir R. Millar, J. D.
Dudgeon, Major C. R. Isaacs, George Montague, Frederick
Duncan, Charles Jones, F. Llewellyn- (Flint) Morley, Ralph
Morris, Rhys Hopkins Rosbotham, D. S. T. Stephen, Campbell
Morris-Jones, Dr. J. H. (Denbigh) Rothschild, J. de Stewart, J. (St. Rollox)
Morrison, Rt. Hon. H. (Hackney, S.) Rowson, Guy Strauss, G. R.
Morrison, Robert C. (Tottenham, N.) Russell, Richard John (Eddisbury) Sutton, J. E.
Mort, D. L. Salter, Dr. Alfred Taylor, R. A. (Lincoln)
Muggeridge, H. T. Samuel, Rt. Hon. Sir H. (Darwen) Thomas, Rt. Hon. J. H. (Derby)
Murnin, Hugh Samuel, H. Walter (Swansea, West) Tillett, Ben
Noel Baker, P. J. Sanders, W. S. Tinker, John Joseph
Noel-Buxton, Baroness (Norfolk, N.) Sawyer, G. F. Toole, Joseph
Oldfield, J. R. Scurr, John Tout, W. J.
Oliver, George Harold (Ilkeston) Sexton, Sir James Vaughan, David
Oliver, P. M. (Man., Blackley) Shakespeare, Geoffrey H. Viant, S. P.
Palin, John Henry Shaw, Rt. Hon. Thomas (Preston) Walkden, A. G.
Paling, Wilfrid Shepherd, Arthur Lewis Walker, J.
Palmer, E. T. Sherwood, G. H. Wallace, H. W.
Parkinson, John Allen (Wigan) Shield, George William Watkins, F. C.
Peters, Dr. Sidney John Shiels, Dr. Drummond Watson, W. M. (Dunfermline).
Pethick-Lawrence, F. W. Shillaker, J. F. Welsh, James (Paisley)
Phillips, Dr. Marion Shinwell, E. Welsh, James C. (Coatbridge)
Picton-Turbervill, Edith Short, Alfred (Wednesbury) West, F. R.
Pole, Major D. G. Simmons, C. J. White, H. G.
Potts, John S. Sinclair, Sir A. (Caithness) Whiteley, Wilfrid (Birm., Ladywood)
Price, M. P. Sitch, Charles H. Williams, David (Swansea, East)
Pybus, Percy John Smith, Ben (Bermondsey, Rotherhithe) Williams, T. (York, Don Valley)
Ramsay, T. B. Wilson Smith, Frank (Nuneaton) Wilson, C. H. (Sheffield, Attercliffe)
Raynes, W. R, Smith, Rennie (Penistone) Wilson, J. (Oldham)
Richards, R. Smith, Tom (Pontefract) Wilson, R. J. Narrow)
Richardson, R. (Houghton-le-Spring) Smith, W. R. (Norwich) Winterton, G. E.(Leicester, Loughb'gh)
Riley, Ben (Dewsbury) Snell, Harry Wood, Major McKenzie (Banff)
Ritson, J. Snowden, Rt. Hon. Philip Young, R. S. (Islington, North)
Roberts, Rt. Hon. F. O.(W. Bromwich) Sorensen, R.
Romeril, H. G. Stamford, Thomas W. TELLERS FOR THE AYES.
Mr. Hayes and Mr. Thurtle.
NOES.
Acland-Troyte, Lieut.-Colonel Falle, Sir Bertram G. Purbrick, R.
Albery, Irving James Ferguson, Sir John Ramsbotham, H.
Amery, Rt. Hon. Leopold C. M. S. Fielden, E. B. Rawson, Sir Cooper
Atholl, Duchess of Gault, Lieut.-Col. A. Hamilton Reid, David D. (County Down)
Baldwin, Rt. Hon. Stanley (Bewdley) Glyn, Major R. G. C. Remer, John R.
Beaumont, M. W. Gower, Sir Robert Rentoul, Sir Gervals S.
Bellairs, Commander Carlyon Graham, Fergus (Cumberland, N.) Reynolds, Col. Sir James
Berry, Sir George Grattan-Doyle, Sir N. Roberts, Sir Samuel (Ecclesall)
Betterton, Sir Henry B. Gretton, Colonel Rt. Hon. John Rodd, Rt. Hon. Sir James Rennell
Birchall, Major Sir John Dearman Guinness, Rt. Hon. Walter E. Ross, Ronald D.
Bird, Ernest Roy Hacking, Rt. Hon. Douglas H. Ruggles-Brise, Lieut.-Colonel E. A.
Bourne, Captain Robert Croft. Hall, Lieut.-Col. Sir F. (Dulwich) Russell, Alexander West (Tynemouth)
Bowater, Col. Sir T. Vansittart Hammersley, S. S. Salmon, Major J.
Bowyer, Captain Sir George E. W. Hannon, Patrick Joseph Henry Samuel, A. M. (Surrey, Farnham)
Boyce, Leslie Hartington, Marquess of Sandeman, Sir N. Stewart
Bracken, B. Harvey, Major S. E. (Devon, Totnes) Savery, S. S.
Brass, Captain Sir William Haslam, Henry C. Shepperson, Sir Ernest Whittome
Briscoe, Richard George Henderson, Capt. R. R.(Oxf'd. Henley) Simms, Major-General J.
Brown, Col. D. C. (N'th'l'd., Hexham) Heneage, Lieut.-Colonel Arthur P. Sinclair, Col. T. (Queen's U., Belfast)
Brown, Brig.-Gen. H. C.(Berks, Newb'y) Hills, Major Rt. Hun. John Waller Smith, Louis W. (Sheffield, Hallam)
Buchan-Hepburn, P. G. T. Hoare, Lt.-Col. Rt. Hon. Sir S. J. G. Smith, R. W.(Aberd'n A Kinc'dine, O.)
Butler, R. A. Howard-Bury, Colonel C. K. Smithers, Waldron
Cadogan, Major Hon. Edward Hudson, Capt. A. U. M. (Hackney, N.) Somerset, Thomas
Campbell, E. T. Hurd, Percy A. Somerville, A. A. (Windsor)
Carver, Major W. H. Inskip, Sir Thomas Somerville, D. G. (Willesden, East)
Castle Stewart, Earl of Knox, Sir Alfred Southby, Commander A. R. J.
Cautley, Sir Henry S. Lamb, Sir J. Q. Spender-Clay, Colonel H.
Cayzer, Sir C. (Chester, City) Lane Fox, Col. Rt. Hon. George R. Stanley, Lord (Fylde)
Cayzer, Maj. Sir Herbt. R. (Prtsmth, S.) Law, Sir Alfred (Derby, High Peak) Stanley, Hon. O. (Westmorland)
Chamberlain, Rt. Hn. Sir J. A.(Birm., W.) Leighton, Major B. E. P. Taylor, Vice-Admiral E. A.
Chapman, Sir S. Lewis, Oswald (Colchester) Titchfield, Major the Marquess of
Cohen, Major J. Brunel Llewellin, Major J. J. Turton, Robert Hugh
Colville, Major D. J. Locker-Lampson, Rt. Hon. Godfrey Vaughan-Morgan, Sir Kenyon
Courtauld, Major J. S. Maitland, A. (Kent, Favensham) Wallace, Capt. D. E. (Hornsey)
Cranborne, Viscount Margesson, Captain H. D. Ward, Lieut.-Col. Sir A. Lambert
Crichton-Stuart, Lord C. Mason, Colonel Glyn K. Wardlaw-Milne, J. S.
Crookshank, Cpt. H.(Lindsey, Gainsbro) Mitchell, Sir W. Lane (Streatham) Waterhouse, Captain Charles
Culverwell, C. T. (Bristol, West) Mitchell-Thomson, Rt. Hon. Sir W. Wayland, Sir William A.
Dalkeith, Earl of Moore, Lieut.-Colonel T. C. R. (Ayr) Wells, Sydney R.
Dalrymple White, Lt.-Col. Sir Godfrey Morrison, W. S. (Glos., Cirencester) Williams, Charles (Devon, Torquay)
Davies, Maj. Geo. F. (Somerset, Yeovil) Nicholson, Col. Rt. Hn. W. G. (Ptrsf'ld) Wolmer, Rt. Hon. Viscount
Dugdale, Capt. T. L. Nield, Rt. Hon. Sir Herbert Womersley, W. J.
Eden, Captain Anthony O'Connor, T. J. Wood, Rt. Hon. Sir Kingsley
Edmondson, Major A. J. O'Neill, Sir H. Young, Rt. Hon. Sir Hilton
Elliot, Major Walter E. Peto, Sir Basil E. (Devon, Barnstaple)
Erskine, Lord (Somerset, Weston-s,.M.) Power, Sir John Cecil TELLERS FOR THE NOES.
Everard W. Lindsay Pownall, Sir Assheton Major Sir George Hennessy and
Sir Frederick Thomson.

Question put, and agreed to.