HC Deb 27 October 1932 vol 269 cc1157-9
Mr. LANSBURY

May I ask the Prime Minister what will be the business for next week?

Mr. McGOVERN

On a, point of Order. I wanted to ask a question relating to a Private Notice Question. Is not this the time at which to ask your guidance on the matter?

Mr. SPEAKER

I will call upon the hon. Member in due time.

The PRIME MINISTER

Assuming that the Time Table Motion for the Ottawa Agreements Bill is passed by the House to-morrow, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday will be the second, third, fourth, fifth, and sixth allotted days respectively in Committee on the Ottawa Agreements Bill.

Should there be time on any day, other Orders may be taken.

Mr. LANSBURY

I am not putting this question in the form of a complaint with regard to the arrangement for the number of days allotted, which, as I understand, are to be added to in the following week; but I want to ask the right hon. Gentleman whether he will consider if through the usual channels it can be agreed that the discussions on the Ottawa Agreements, seeing that they cannot be amended, but can only be discussed, shall be severely restricted, so that we shall finish, say, on Wednesday next, and that the House shall specially devote the days saved in that way to a general discussion, in order that the House can pool its thoughts and proposals, in connection with unemployment. It has often been said that we ought in this House to discuss this overwhelming question without regard to a Motion of Censure or anything other than trying to find some common agreement as to what we can do. Our proposal, seeing that we cannot amend these Ottawa Agreements, and seeing that we shall have already given five days to the subject when we finish to-night, is that, if it can be agreed by other parties in the House, we should finish on Wednesday, and then the House itself, for the rest of the time that was to be given to these discussions, should go into a discussion and a pooling of our ideas to see whether before many days pass we cannot come to some practical agreement, not as to ultimate solutions, but as to how we can palliate the growing misery all round.

The PRIME MINISTER

As my right hon. Friend knows, I did not know that this question was going to be asked, but I shall be only too glad to accommodate the House with regard to business. We must get the Ottawa Agreements Bill in order that it may be completely finished before we rise, but, if any general agreement can be made in the House, I shall be only too glad to announce it as a Government decision.

Mr. MAXTON

I want to understand exactly where we are in this matter. I am entirely with the request of the Leader of the Opposition. I am agreeable, and have so intimated through the usual channels, to have the Committee stage on the Ottawa Bill reduced to a fraction of what is being allowed just now. The Leader of the Opposition is suggesting that it should be cut down; I am suggesting that it should be cut down; might I ask why the Government feel it necessary to Guillotine the Bill, and where the Opposition to the Bill is coming from? Why the allocation of what the Opposition regard as an excessive time? Will the Prime Minister tell us?

Mr. LANSBURY

I would not ask for the arrangement that I have suggested except that I want the time saved to be utilised for the discussion of whether we can, all together, find some proposal that will help to relieve the unemployment situation.

Mr. MAXTON

I am only intervening to say that, instead of having one day for that, we might have two days so far as our Opposition is concerned.

Mr. LANSBURY

I am quite of that view.

Mr. MAXTON

Will the Prime Minister tell us who is requiring the five days? It is not the Opposition.