BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE. (Hansard, 26 November 1931)

§ Mr. LANSBURY
Would the Prime Minister state the order for business next week?

§ The PRIME MINISTER
The order of business will be:
Monday: Committee stage of Ways and Means Resolution relating to Customs Duties on certain Agricultural Products.
Tuesday: Report stage of the Ways and Means Resolution.
Wednesday and Thursday: Debate on India.
Friday: Motion approving the Order, made under the Abnormal Importations (Customs Duties) Act, 1931.
On any day, should time permit, other Orders will be taken. It might be convenient if I also said that the Ways and Means Resolution re agricultural products will be handed in at the Table to-morrow (Friday), and that the Resolution approving the Abnormal Importations Order will also be handed in to-morrow.

§ Mr. LANSBURY
I understand that the Resolution dealing with the Customs Duties will be available to-morrow?

§ Mr. LANSBURY
What form will the Debate on India take, and when does the right hon. Gentleman propose to give time for our Motion—[Distress and Unemployment].

§ The PRIME MINISTER
I will reply to the last question first. It will be an early day in the following week. As to the question regarding India, if my right hon. Friend will repeat the question on Monday, I shall be in a position to answer him.

§ Earl WINTERTON
I am sorry to press the right hon. Gentleman, but would it be possible for him to indicate the general line of the Debate on India, whether it will be so arranged that it will be of a wide character?

§ The PRIME MINISTER
As wide as the statement I shall make.

§ Mr. T. WILLIAMS
Do we understand the Prime Minister to say that the Ways and Means Resolution will be handed in at the Table to-morrow or that a copy of the Resolution will be available for Members to-morrow? After all, that is the important thing. Is it not to be available until Monday morning?

§ The PRIME MINISTER
I will see whether hon. Members can be accommodated. I am afraid, however, that it will not be possible to circulate it. In that event, manuscript Amendments will be possible on Monday.

§ Mr. LANSBURY
I think I must have misunderstood the Prime Minister. I understood that the Resolution would be available in the Vote Office to-morrow. Very well. What I ask is this: This is a very important departure. It is the first of the food taxes. Would it be possible, as a special act, to allow us to have a manuscript copy to-night or first thing to-morrow, so that we can have it available for consideration?

§ The PRIME MINISTER
I quite admit that this is one of the first of the taxes on unnecessary luxuries. I will do my best so that the Opposition will have the Resolution at the very earliest time possible so as to enable them to study it and to contribute to the Debate on Monday. It may be impossible to do more than I have said, which is to hand it in at the Table to-morrow.

§ Mr. LANSBURY
All I ask is that, if a copy is handed in at the Table, we may have a copy at the same time.

§ Mr. MAXTON
This order of business for next week indicates a very big change from what was contemplated in the Government's programme when it was announced last week. The right hon. Gentleman told me, in reply to a question on business, that the Session was terminating and that no new business was in contemplation. Could he take the House into his confidence as to what circumstances have arisen in the last week in the national situation that have called for such a drastic change in the Government's programme?

§ The PRIME MINISTER
I do not admit that it is a drastic change. What has arisen is simply this: The Government before rising want to go on with further action. It was for that purpose that the Government were elected, and it was also for that purpose that the Government called this meeting of the House so very quickly after the election.

§ Mr. WARDLAW-MILNE
On the question of India, will the Prime Minister consider this point, that, although the constitutional matters which will be referred to are of paramount importance, there are also other important matters in connection with India at the present time, such as trade matters and general conditions in India, to which Members may wish to refer, and I would ask him if it is possible so to arrange the business that other matters may be referred to if necessary?

§ The PRIME MINISTER
Hon. Members who refer to those matters will have to do it at their own risk. I am sure that they will be able to put in a good deal which will remain in order, but the purpose of the Debate is to deal with the subject matter which we are discussing at the Round Table Conference at the present moment, and I cannot possibly agree to anything which would enable the point of that Debate to be obscured.

Captain CROOKSHANK
If I understand the Prime Minister aright, he proposes to take the Committee stage and the Report stage of the Ways and Means Resolution on Monday?

§ The PRIME MINISTER
No; on Monday the Committee, and on Tuesday the Report.

Captain CROOKSHANK
Thank you, Sir.

§ Mr. MAXTON
May I revert to the previous question to the Prime Minister, on which I have not been satisfied? The Prime Minister assured us in the King's Speech—

§ Mr. SPEAKER
The hon. Member cannot discuss the question of policy at this time.

§ Mr. MAXTON
It is the programme. The Government intimated to us that this would be a very short Session—we have all made our plans accordingly—and that no big steps would be taken in the matter of Protection until the Government had time to work out a sure and safe policy, because there were many dangers attached. Now this has been brought forward, and I ask whether national circumstances have changed to justify such a drastic change in the programme?

§ Mr. SPEAKER
That does not arise out of the question.

§ Mr. A. BEVAN
In view of the departure in constitutional procedure that has taken place, in that legislation is now being initiated by deputations to the Prime Minister—[Interruption.]

§ Sir AUSTEN CHAMBERLAIN
With regard to the Resolution which the right hon. Gentleman says will be handed in to-morrow, but a copy of which he has undertaken to make available to the Leader of the Opposition, will he agree also to place a copy, if it can be done in time, in the Library of the House where other Members may make themselves aware of the Resolution?

§ The PRIME MINISTER
Yes, I shall be very glad to do that. Whatever it is possible to do to suit the convenience of the Opposition will be repeated to suit other Members.

§ Dr. MORRIS-JONES
Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that many of us who supported him in his recent appeal for a policy of the free hand are getting distinctly alarmed at the rapidity of the pace?