§ The PRIME MINISTEROn Monday and Tuesday the National Health Insurance and Contributory Pensions Bill, Committee stage; Hire Purchase and Small Debt (Scotland) Bill, Report and Third Reading.
Wednesday: Supply, Committee, The Ministry of Agriculture Vote. I understand that there is to be a general discussion on agriculture.
Thursday: Supply, Committee, Dominions Office Vote. The Imperial Economic Conference at Ottawa, I understand, is to be the subject to be discussed.
Friday: Supply, Committee. The Vote will be announced later.
On any day, if there is time, other Orders will be taken.
§ Mr. CHURCHILLCan the right hon. Gentleman say whether he contemplates giving a day for the discussion of our relations with the Irish Free State?
§ The PRIME MINISTERThere has been no demand for it. Supply, as my right hon. Friend knows, is in the hands of the Opposition.
§ Captain P. MACDONALDWill the Prime Minister say whether the Agenda of the Ottawa Conference will be available to the House before the Debate takes place on Thursday next?
§ Mr. LANSBURYMay I be allowed to say, on the question of a Debate on our relations with the Irish Free State, that we deliberately asked that Friday should be kept open, so that if it is considered desirable we should take that Debate on that day? We, on our side, only desire that the Debate should take place at the most convenient time.
§ The PRIME MINISTERThat is so. Friday is available for that Debate. That is why no announcement has been made.
§ Captain MACDONALDMay I have an answer to my question as to whether the agenda of the Ottawa Conference will be available before the Debate takes place?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI understand that an answer was given yesterday that it is our desire to publish the agenda before the Debate, but we are still awaiting replies from Geneva.
§ Mr. MAXTONI want to ask the Prime Minister, having regard to the controversial nature of the National Health Insurance and Contributory Pensions Bill, and having regard to the amount of detail involved in it, does the Prime Minister anticipate securing the Committee stage in two days without the suspension of the Eleven o'Clock Rule? The other point I want to ask is whether the Vote that will be put down for Thursday for the Dominions Office will permit a discussion on the Minister's salary, so that it will be possible to discuss on that day the activities of the Minister other than the preparations for the Imperial Economic Conference at Ottawa?
§ The PRIME MINISTERWith reference to the second question, we shall put down whatever Vote is asked for by the Opposition, so that they may have a full opportunity for the discussion of anything they wish to be discussed. With reference to the business for Monday 2118 and Tuesday, we have put those two Bills on the Order Paper so that, if the first one is finished, we shall proceed with the Hire Purchase and Small Debt (Scotland) Bill. We must suspend the Eleven o'Clock Rule, but there is no intention of keeping the House inordinately late.
§ Mr. MAXTONI know that the Prime Minister has not been able to be present, but there has been a tremendous taking up of time in this House—although all private Members' time has been taken away—by debate on non-controversial Measures by supporters of the Government, and now, when we come to a really controversial piece of legislation, we are being limited to less than two days for the Committee stage. I want to ask the Prime Minister if the Government propose to force this Measure through in two days by the suspension of the Eleven o'Clock Rule, or whether, if it is shown in the course of the two days that that is inadequate, other time will be made available?
§ The PRIME MINISTERMy experience has always been that the supporters of a Government have been responsible for considerable waste of time, and I am not—[Interruption.]
§ Mr. CHURCHILLConsumption of time.
§ The PRIME MINISTERYes; the right hon. Gentleman is in a very helpful frame of mind; I withdraw the word "waste." It is not our intention to force the second Bill through by the mere suspension of the Eleven o'Clock Rule, but I think it is fair to ask the House to give us the Committee stage of the first Bill within two days.
§ Earl WINTERTONArising out of the right hon. Gentleman's previous answer, are we to understand that, provided the appropriate Vote is put down by the Opposition, there will be a full exposition by spokesmen of the Government of the policy of the Government at Ottawa, to which reference was made in an answer by the Chancellor of the Exchequer to-day, saying that they had a policy at Ottawa?
§ Mr. LANSBURYBefore the right hon. Gentleman replies to that question, might I ask him whether he is aware that the Vote is put down specifically in order 2119 to have the fullest and most complete discussion of the proposed proceedings at the Ottawa Conference? We very much hope that we shall have a full explanation from the Government and a full discussion by Members of the House.
§ The PRIME MINISTERThat is exactly why the Vote was put down.
§ Earl W1NTERTONThen the answer to my question is in the affirmative— there will be a full explanation?
§
Ordered,
That the Proceedings on the Finance Bill have precedence this day of the Business of Supply."—(The Prime Minister.)