§ Mr. S. BALDWINMay I ask the Prime Minister what the business will be next week, and also whether he is in a position, as he indicated he might be, to tell us what business it is proposed to take before the end of the Session, and when the House will rise for the Summer Recess?
§ The PRIME MINISTERIn regard to the last part of the question, I am trying to work on a programme which will enable us to rise on the last day of July—Friday, 31st July. I cannot make that as a pledge, because there are certain 1475 matters that would have to be arranged, if possible, but that is my intention, and I hope with a certain amount of co-operation that that intention will be carried out. As regards the business for next week, it will be as follows:
§ Monday: Agricultural Marketing Bill, Report.
§ Tuesday: Housing (Rural Authorities) Money Resolution, Committee; and Consumers' Council, Money Resolution Committee.
§ Wednesday: Unemployment Insurance (No. 3) Bill, Second Reading, and Committee stage of the necessary Money Resolution; Report stage of the Money Resolutions taken on Tuesday.
§ Thursday: Supply (13th Allotted Day). The Vote will be announced later. Unemployment Insurance, Money Resolution, Report.
§ Friday: Second Readings of Housing (Rural Authorities) Bill; Isle of Man (Customs) Bill; and Public Works Loan Bill. The last two Bills are not in the hands of hon. Members yet, but I think they will be in their hands to-morrow. I ought to say—and I think the House will probably allow me—that if it is necessary to introduce some form of Coal legislation, I may be compelled to ask the House to allow me to vary that programme.
§ Mr. S. BALDWINWith regard to Monday's business, may I remind the Prime Minister that there is, what I understand to be a very contentious Bill, to be taken at half-past Seven on that evening, the discussion on which will run until 11 o'clock. I do not know what his intentions are, in view of that fact, with regard to the Report stage of the Government Bill which he has put down for that day. Further, may I ask the Prime Minister whether he hopes to prorogue or to adjourn at the end of July?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI am afraid it will be an Adjournment. I am much obliged to the right hon. Gentleman for reminding me of the Private Bill which is down for Monday. If the House will be good enough to leave the matter as it is, we shall see what can be done. We are hopeful that that Bill will not be quite so contentious as the right hon. Gentleman expects.
§ Mr. CHURCHILLOn the question of business, may I ask the Prime Minister when he proposes to give the opportunity for debate upon the declaration of a British guarantee in regard to Indian finance, which he promised at Question Time yesterday?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI am very sorry that the right hon. Gentleman seems to have misunderstood. I thought that it was quite specifically stated yesterday that there will be no Debate on this subject until a Money Resolution is required.
§ Mr. CHURCHILLI am ready to refresh the right hon. Gentleman's memory. I asked him this supplementary question yesterday:
May I ask the Prime Minister whether in view of the fact that his statement definitely commits this country to certain contingent obligations, in view of which the investors throughout the country are being guided.… the right hon. Gentleman will not allow the House an opportunity of Debate upon this question?The PRIME MINISTER: Certainly there would be a Debate."—[OFFICIAL REPORT, 1st July, 1931; col. 1201, Vol. 254.]I am reading the exact sequence in the OFFICIAL REPORT. May I ask him if he will adhere to that. It is a perfectly specific undertaking.
§ The PRIME MINISTERI think, charging my memory, that the right hon. Gentleman was very economical in his quotations. That answer was covered by a fuller answer on the same point. There will be a Debate, should the occasion arise for making our pledge effective.
§ Mr. CHURCHILLDoes the Prime Minister not realise that the pledge is effective from the moment it is given? People are investing, and are encouraged to invest their money from what the Government has said. Can we possibly leave the matter in its present vague condition?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI am afraid I have nothing to add to what I have said. The pledge is effective as to India, but if that requires to be made a fact, there will be a Debate in this House.
§ Mr. BUCHANANMay I ask the Prime Minister two questions in regard to the Anomalies Bill? Is it the intention of the Government to take the Committee stage of that Bill on the Floor of the 1477 House or to send it upstairs, and is it the intention of the Government to make the vote a party vote, or a free vote on that Bill?
§ The PRIME MINISTERThose questions will be decided later. The Second Reading will be taken on Wednesday. Possibly the Committee stage will be on the Floor of the House.