§ Mr. LANSBURY(by Private Notice) asked the Lord President of the Council whether he will make a statement relative to the American debt payment before Thursday next, and make such statement under conditions which will enable the House to discuss it?
§ Mr. BALDWINThe House will remember that I promised the right hon. Gentleman that I would do my best. It has not been easy to arrange it, in the present state of business and the nearness of the Christmas Recess, but I wish publicly to thank the hon. Members for Central Nottingham (Mr. O'Connor) and for Oxford University (Sir C. Oman) for surrendering the privilege which they gained in the ballot for the general convenience of the House, and I have to announce that we shall be able to take the Debate on Wednesday. I have to thank, too, the hon. Members who had second and third places in the ballot, the hon. Members for Stockton-on-Tees (Mr. Macmillan), Finchley (Mr. Cadogan) and Ripon (Major Hills) for kindly consenting to waive their claims for the general convenience. So on Wednesday we propose taking a Debate, for which we shall be quite willing to give the whole day, and an appropriate statement will be made, probably by the Chancellor of the Exchequer.
§ Mr. LANSBURYI suppose the whole House will be glad that the right hon. Gentleman has been able to make these arrangements, and we are all, like himself, grateful to the hon. Members who have made it possible. But I would like to ask the right hon. Gentleman whether he has further considered the time to be given to 36 the Housing Bill which is to come on on Thursday. The right hon. Gentleman, when I asked him for another day, said it was a short Bill. It is a short Bill, but it contains very important provisions rescinding legislation that has been in operation for a number of years and changing the whole basis of housing in the country; and I want to press him very strongly indeed that we shall have a second day for the Second Reading of that Bill. I hope that between now and Thursday wiser or more reasonable counsels will prevail with the Patronage Secretary to the Treasury and the Lord President. I do not think we are asking too much in asking for two days for the Second Reading of such a really counter-revolutionary Bill.
§ Mr. BALDWINI naturally can have no objection to the right hon. Gentleman asking, but even between now and Thursday I cannot produce an eighth day in the week, and with every desire to meet him we cannot find time. We are most desirous to get the Second Reading of this Bill through—it is a Bill which will lead to a great deal of discussion in Committee—before we adjourn, because we think it is of great importance to the House and to the country that they should be able to see the whole scheme as contemplated both in that Bill and in the Rent Restrictions Bill so as to consider this very complicated subject during the Recess.
§ Mr. LANSBURYHas the right hon. Gentleman considered that the Financial Resolution, which will be necessary, I understand, must be taken after the Recess? Therefore, I think it is not asking too much that, if we start the discussion on Thursday, we should carry it over until after the holidays and finish it when we come back. The will be before the country and will be printed, the Minister will have made his statement, and there will be ample opportunity for everyone who wishes to consider it to do so. I think perhaps the House will be in a better position when Members have heard the opinions of their constituents and know what reception they give the Bill, before giving it a Second Reading.
§ Mr. BALDWINI can assure the right hon. Gentleman that I have given very careful consideration to this question, 37 and we must ask the House to give us the Second Reading before we separate. He has, of course, put his finger on a perfectly good point, which shows that he realises that he will have ample opportunity for still further discussion on the Financial Resolution.
§ Mr. LAMBERTWill the Motion on the American debt be a direct Motion enabling the House of Commons to express an opinion as to whether this instalment should be paid or not?
§ Mr. BALDWINNo. The Government propose moving the Adjournment of the House for the discussion. They do not propose to put down any Motion.
§ Mr. LAMBERTMay I press my right hon. Friend? As the American Congress and the French Chamber of Deputies are discussing the matter, cannot the House of Commons be consulted also before any payment is made?
§ Mr. BALDWINThey are being consulted, and they will have a perfectly free Debate, and it will be discussed from every point of view. I cannot see, as at present advised, any need to put down a Motion. I think a free and open discussion of this subject, without any reference to what anybody else may be doing, is what this House requires.
§ Mr. THORNEBetween now and next Thursday will the right hon. Gentleman be in a position to say whether France and Italy are going to pay their portion to us?
§ Mr. BALDWINOf course, any information that has reached the Government on that subject by Wednesday will be at the full disposal of the House.