HC Deb 18 February 1932 vol 261 cc1833-5
Mr. LANSBURY

May I ask the Leader of the House in the absence of the Prime Minister, to state what the business will be next week?

The LORD PRESIDENT of the COUNCIL (Mr. Baldwin)

I am sure that if the Prime Minister were here he would be glad to answer the right hon. Gentleman. The business for next week is as follows:

Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday: 3rd, 4th and 5th Allotted Days in Committee on the Import Duties Bill.

Thursday: Report and Third Reading of the Import Duties Bill.

Friday's business will be announced later.

If time permits on any day other Orders will be taken.

Sir HUGH O'NEILL

As the House will soon be going into Committee of Supply on the Estimates, may I ask my right hon. Friend whether it would not be possible this year, in view of the numerical state of parties in the House, to arrange that Government supporters should have some share in the selection of the Votes to be discussed in Committee?

Mr. BALDWIN

The practical difficulty is that it always has been the right of the Opposition to select the subjects of debate on these occasions, and hitherto the size of the Opposition has not affected that principle. That is the short answer to my right hon. Friend.

Sir H. O'NEILL

But is the position not rather more urgent now, in view of the fact that private Member's opportunities have been taken away from them, and that the Estimates will provide the only occasions on which private Members can raise various matters?

Mr. BALDWIN

I do not think that we ought to grudge to them the little amount of amusement which the Opposition can have. After all, it is the right of the Opposition to challenge the Government on all these matters. It so happens that when the Opposition are small in numbers they can have a better time in many ways as regards these matters, but I do not think that that ought to influence us.

Mr. THORNE

We are not responsible for the large number of Members opposite.

Mr. MAXTON

Apart from the entertainment aspect of the matter, which makes as big an appeal to me as to any other Member of the House, is it not a definite part of the Constitution that the Opposition have the right to criticise expenditure proposed by His Majesty's Ministers, and that that is no part of die function of hon. Members who are sitting behind the Government?

Earl WINTERTON

In view of the fact that there is no Constitutional justification for this practice or custom which has grown up of selection by the Opposition, and in view of what my right hon. Friend said the other day about the flexibility of the Constitution, might he not enter into friendly negotiations through the usual channels with the Leader of the Opposition to see if this custom which has led to a great deal of hardship, could not be altered at any rate to this extent—that if, say, 150 Members of all parties desire it, certain days should be set apart for certain subjects not asked for by the Opposition?

Mr. LANSBURY

On behalf of those who sit here, and no one else, may I say that we would be perfectly willing through the usual channels to discuss the matter and to make whatever arrangement might be considered best. The one thing that we are anxious for is that the goodness or the badness of His Majesty's Government should be brought out by its own supporters as well as by us.

Mr. BUCHANAN

As the point has been raised about consultations through the usual channels, may I, speaking for the smallest group in the House—[HON. MEMBERS: "No!"]— and one not likely to be consulted, intimate that we hope the leaders on both sides will not think it discourteous if we decline to be parties to any arrangement.

Mr. THORNE

Is there not a smaller group than that of which my hon. Friend speaks? The right hon. and gallant Gentleman for Newcastle-under-Lyme (Colonel Wedgwood) is a group "on his own."

Earl WINTERTON

Following what has been said by the Leader of the Opposition, to whom we are all very grateful for his reception of this suggestion, may ask if my right hon. Friend the Lord President of the Council would at least enter into a discussion on this matter with the Leader of the Opposition to see if some way could not be found of meeting the wishes expressed by my right hon. Friend the Member for Antrim (Sir H. O'Neill), which represent a large body of opinion in the House.

Mr. BALDWIN

I have not the slightest objection to consultations taking place with the Leader of the Opposition on the matter.