HC Deb 07 July 1932 vol 268 cc630-2
Mr. LANSBURY

May I ask the President of the Council what will be the business for next week, and how far he proposes to go to-night.

Mr. BALDWIN

I will take the business for to-night first. I hope it will be possible to make good progress, because time is getting short now. Today, in addition to Supply, the Government desire to obtain Ways and Means (6th July), Report, upon which the Consolidated Fund Bill will be founded. Also the Committee stage of the Irish Free State (Special Duties) Bill. Both those Orders' are exempted business, but the Eleven o'Clock Rule is being suspended in order to obtain the remaining stages of the Malta Constitution Bill [Lords]. With regard to business next week, we shall take:

Monday: Consolidated Fund (Appropriation) Bill, Second Reading.

Tuesday: Consolidated Fund (Appropriation) Bill, remaining stages.

If all outstanding business has been disposed of, including Amendments to Bills which may be received from another place, the Government hope that it will be possible to take the Motion for the Summer Adjournment on Wednesday, 13th July, until Thursday, 27th October. I may add for the convenience of Members that, in this event, the House will meet at 11 o'clock on Wednesday morning.

It has been decided to propose the Adjournment of the House until the Autumn, and the Motion will contain provisions to empower Mr. Speaker, on representations being made by the Government, to call the House together at an earlier date, if such a course appears to be in the public interest. It is early, perhaps, to give any indication of what may happen late in October, but it is our intention, if nothing unforeseen occurs, to prorogue as speedily as may be to enable the new Session to be begun.

Mr. CHURCHILL

Will my right hon. Friend give us any indication of the scope of the Debate on Monday and Tuesday on the stages of the: Appropriation Biil?

Mr. BALDWIN

I am much obliged. I ought to have mentioned that. On Monday, I understand that two subjects will be debated. There will be a Debate on economy, and a Debate, I do not quite know in what form, on the record of the Government.

Mr. LANSBURY

What we propose on Monday is that there shall be, as far as we are concerned, a general review of the work of the Government during the Session. We also understand that certain Members wish, during the discussion, to put particular emphasis upon the question of economy.

Mr. BALDWIN

I think that in the course of the Debate on Monday, there will be ample time for a discussion on economy, and that on Tuesday we shall be able to discuss what has happened at Lausanne and what is happening at Geneva.

Mr. CHURCHILL

Having regard to the fact that these topics, domestic economy and debt settlements which are being discussed at Geneva, overlap to a considerable extent, and are intimately related, will not a certain latitude of Debate over the whole field be permitted?

Mr. BALDWIN

That is a matter which, I think, might be raised with the Chair. I wish to say at this moment that I am not quite certain when the Ministers will be back. I hope very much that the Chancellor of the Exchequer will be here on Monday, and that he may be able to take part in the Debate.

Mr. LANSBURY

With regard to Tuesday, we agree that the two subjects overlap, and we are extremely anxious to get statements on both of them. We could ask Mr. Speaker whether it would be possible to have a very broad discussion. That, of course, would depend upon Mr. Speaker.

Mr. BALDWIN

I would only add, for the information of the House, that as soon as my right hon. Friends return, I shall see that we take every step we can to enable a discussion to be taken in this House on those subjects. I am hoping that the Ministers who have been in charge of these matters will be here to take part in the discussion, and meet any criticism which is raised.

Sir BASIL PETO

Can my right hon. Friend state the business that will be carried through in the adjourned portion of the Session?

Mr. CHURCHILL

Before my right hon. Friend answers that question, may I ask you, Mr. Speaker, whether you will feel able to give us any guidance as to the scope of the Debate on Monday and Tuesday?

Mr. SPEAKER

The right hon. Gentleman knows quite well that the scope of the Debate on the Consolidated Fund Bill is a very wide one. There is hardly anything which cannot be raised provided it does not require legislation.

Mr. BALDWIN

With regard to the question put by my hon. Friend, I could not answer that now. Perhaps he will put a question down on the last day the House meets?

Ordered,

"That the Proceedings on Government Business be exempted, at this day's Sitting, from the provisions of the Standing Order (Sittings of the House) and that, if the first Resolution reported from the Committee of Supply of the 6th July shall have been agreed to before Ten of the Clock, Mr. Speaker shall proceed to put forthwith the Questions which he is directed to put at Ten of the Clock, under paragraph 8 of Standing Order No. 15."—[Mr. Baldwin.]