§ Mr. STANLEY BALDWINCan the Prime Minister tell us what the business will be next week?
§ The PRIME MINISTERMonday, debate on the Indian Round-Table Conference.
Tuesday: Second and final day of the Trade Disputes and Trade Unions (Amendment) Bill, Second Reading.
Wednesday and Thursday: Agricultural Land (Utilisation Bill), further stages.
Friday: Private Members' Bills.
On any day, should time permit, other Orders may be taken.
§ Mr. BALDWINI wish to enter a caveat as to the first item of business and also to protest very strongly against the 366 allocation of business for the rest of the week. I am in entire agreement with the request for an early date for the Debate on the Indian Round-Table Conference, but we have had no information yet as to when the White Paper will he issued or what will be in the White Paper. I think it is desirable that the White Paper should be as complete as possible and that sufficient time should be allowed, after its receipt, for hon. Members who have not been closely connected with the work of the Conference to familiarise themselves with it so that they may be able to follow and take part in the discussion. With regard to the other items, I must once more plead for further time for the Trade Disputes and Trade Unions (Amendment) Bill, and I hope that the appeal, which I will support with evidence this afternoon, will carry conviction to the Prime Minister. With regard to the Agricultural Land (Utilisation) Bill, we objected strongly to that Measure going upstairs, and also to the Kangaroo Motion, but, this having taken place, it is all the more essential that the Bill should be properly examined by the whole House, and such a cursory examination as can be given to it on the two days which have been allowed for Report stage and Third Reading will be very incomplete.
§ The PRIME MINISTERI understood that it was the general wish of the House to have the Debate on the Indian Round-Table Conference on Monday.
§ Mr. BALDWINSubject to what I have said.
§ The PRIME MINISTERMonday was put into my head by an important Member of the Opposition. I said on Tuesday that I hoped that a White Paper giving certain particulars could be ready for circulation at the week-end. Such a White Paper can be produced, and will be in the Vote Office by 4 o'clock tomorrow afternoon. The information which will he in that White Paper will be the report of the sub-committees of the Conference, the final Resolution of the Conference itself, and my closing official statement—the declaration made on behalf of His Majesty's Government. Then I should propose that further papers should be laid before Parliament as soon as possible, which will include the text of the debates in the Plenary 367 Sessions and the comments made in the committee of the whole Conference on the reports of the sub-committees. The Conference documents are so numerous that there might be some delay in presenting to Parliament the further collection I have mentioned. A supplementary volume will be issued in due course containing the proceedings in the sub-committees, and the memoranda circulated to the Conference and to its committees. I understood that, if a White Paper could be produced this week-end on the lines of the statement I made on Tuesday last, it would be useful, and that Monday was the most convenient day for the Debate. A White Paper will be ready for hon. Members to-morrow at 4 o'clock on the lines I have mentioned.
With reference to the Debate on the Trade Disputes and Trade Unions Bill, I am always prepared to come to an agreement, but the agreement must really be fair. The Agricultural Land (Utilisation) Bill is down for Wednesday and Thursday, and we certainly wish to get that Bill pushed through without any delay or waste of time, but so that its points can be adequately discussed. I understood there was general agreement that the success of the handling of the Bill upstairs was very conspicuous indeed.
§ Sir AUSTEN CHAMBERLAINWith regard to the Indian White Paper, it is evidently to be a rather voluminous Paper and one which will require a good deal of study. Cannot the Prime Minister arrange to expedite its circulation? It will be very inconvenient to hon. Members if they do not receive it until to-morrow night or if it reaches their home only on Saturday morning.
§ The PRIME MINISTERYes, I will do anything that is possible. The right hon. Gentleman knows that we are working under very difficult conditions in getting the White Paper out. I think it may be possible to get it out earlier if that will meet the general convenience of the House. I am willing to change the day of the Debate, but I understood that Monday was the day most convenient to all of us.
§ Sir A. CHAMBERLAINI suggest that the Prime Minister should continue 368 the Trade Disputes and Trade Unions Bill discussion on Monday and Tuesday and should take the Indian Debate afterwards. That would give us rather more time.
§ The PRIME MINISTERWe can consider the matter during the day. It would be far more convenient for us to have the India Debate on Monday than to have it on Tuesday, on account of the arrangements that have been made on the supposition that Monday was to be the date. A good many things will have to be changed if we change the day of that Debate. I think it will be possible for us to get the White Paper circulated perhaps a little earlier, but during the day we shall be able to make a definite statement in that respect.
Ordered,
That the Proceedings on the Trade Disputes and Trade Unions (Amendment) Bill have precedence this day of the Business of Supply."—[The Prime Minister.]