§ Mr. LANSBURYI wish to ask the Prime Minister whether he can now state the business to be taken on Thursday and Friday of this week? May I also repeat my question whether, in view of the fact that the time is approaching for the Government to consider appointments to the British Broadcasting Corporation, he will afford the House an opportunity of considering the question of broadcasting before the appointments are made?
§ Mr. MARJORIBANKSOn a point of Order, Mr. Speaker. As you know, I have a private notice question to ask which will arise out of the question asked by the right hon. Gentleman.
§ Mr. SPEAKERI have no doubt that the hon. Member will be able to ask his question when the time arises.
§ Mr. D. M. MASONI gave notice of a question to the Prime Minister; shall I be in order in asking that question?
§ Mr. SPEAKERThe question of which the hon. Member gave notice had better be put on the Paper.
§ The PRIME MINISTERWith regard to business.
Thursday: Indian Pay (Temporary Abatements) Bill, remaining stages; and the National Health Insurance (Prolongation of Insurance) Bill, Committee stage.
Friday: National Health Insurance (Prolongation of Insurance) Bill, Third Reading.
If it is unnecessary to consider any other Government Orders on these days, there will be opportunities of debating, at a reasonable hour, the Motions relating to Unemployment Insurance—on Thursday the Motion standing in the name of the hon. Gentleman the Member for Chester-le-Street (Mr. Lawson), and on Friday the Motion standing in the name of the hon. Gentleman the Member for Gorbals (Mr. Buchanan).
49 As regards broadcasting, I am sorry to say that I have nothing to add to what I have already said on that subject. As it is a question of policy that is asked for and an opportunity to discuss it, I still think that the Adjournment is the most convenient and appropriate time when it can be taken.
§ Mr. LANSBURYMay I inform the right hon. Gentleman that we are extremely anxious to discuss unemployment and the suffering that will arise during the coming winter? We are putting a Motion on the Paper to that effect to-day, and we shall ask the right hon. Gentleman to give us time to consider it, and we hope he will concede us the time necessary. If we get that time, we shall be quite willing to accept his proposal to discuss broadcasting on the Adjournment.
§ The PRIME MINISTERPerhaps the right hon. Gentleman will just allow me to see the Motion on the Paper before I give a reply.
§ Mr. MAXTONWill the right hon. Gentleman tell me what stage of the National Health Insurance (Prolongation of Insurance) Bill is going to be taken on Friday, and if the proceedings are likely to be long?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI hope that the proceedings will be quite formal. It is the Third Reading on Friday, and I do not anticipate that it will take more than about five minutes.