§ Mr. LANSBURYMay I ask the Prime Minister if a date can now be given for the Motion which stands on the Paper in the names of myself and other Members of the House—
That this House regrets that, instead of making the burden of unemployment a national charge, His Majesty's Government have driven large numbers of able-bodied unemployed persons to seek the aid of the Poor Law, thereby exhausting the resources of an ever-increasing number of local authorities.and also whether he has any alteration to announce in the business for this week?
§ The PRIME MINISTERAs regards the first part of the right hon. Gentleman's question, the Government desire to find an early opportunity for the discussion of the Motion standing in his name. The subject-matter of that Motion interests, not only the party opposite, but many of my hon. Friends on this side of the House. Conversations have taken place through the usual channels, and I am informed that it is considered possible to conclude the Committee stage of the Rent Restrictions Bill by to-morrow night. If that object can be achieved, then the Government would find time for this Debate before the Easter adjourn- 1432 ment. I am aware that many important points will arise during the discussions on the Rent Restrictions Bill, but I venture to suggest that, if hon. Members were willing to put their case briefly, in order to secure the completion of the Committee stage of the Bill by to-morrow, that would make it possible for the Debate on Unemployment to take place early next week.
As regards the second part of the right hon. Gentleman's question, with reference to a possible variation of business this week, a Bill will be presented to-morrow to take powers to deal with the importation of Russian goods into this country. It is proposed to pass the Bill through all its stages on Wednesday, with a view to its passage into law at the earliest possible moment. The text of the Bill will be in the Vote Office to-morrow.
§ Mr. LANSBURYWith reference to the first part of the right hon. Gentleman's answer, that, of course, will depend upon the co-operation of all Members in the House, apart from ourselves, and we would press upon the Prime Minister the importance of the subject-matter of the Motion referred to. With reference to the very serious statement which the right hon. Gentleman has just made, he will be aware that the House has had no written information on this subject from the Government; we have only had verbal statements by various Ministers. I desire to ask him, in order that the House and the country may be seized of all the facts of the case, whether the correspondence and the conversations that have taken place between the British Ambassador and M. Litvinoff, and between our Ambassador and the Government themselves, could be put into a White Paper, so that the House may judge of the legislation that is proposed. Of course, we do not know what the legislation is, but it must be something of a serious character, seeing that the Government want to get it through so speedily. The right hon. Gentleman will understand that the House and the country are entitled to the fullest information before any legislation is considered.
§ The PRIME MINISTERI may remind the right hon. Gentleman that, in any event, on the 17th April, the Trade Agreement lapses, and something must be done to set up a system of trading. Regarding 1433 the conversations which have taken place between our Ambassador and the Russian Foreign Secretary, I think it would be most improper and most unusual, in the middle of the negotiations, to publish papers. The Bill proposed is a purely enabling Bill.
§ Mr. LANSBURYMay I ask the right hon. Gentleman if, in order that the country and the House may know what is the object of the proposed legislation, he will now state categorically whether it has any relation to the incidents that have been taking place in Russia during the last two or three weeks?
§ Captain P. MACDONALDMay I be allowed to put a question? I was informed, in reply to my question which was on the Paper, that the Prime Minister would be making a statement. I assumed that it would be in reply to my question. I would like to know, if I may, what is the nature of the charges against the British subjects now in prison in Russia; and, furthermore, if those prisoners are going to be allowed opportunities for defence?
§ The PRIME MINISTERInto the latter part of the hon. and gallant Member's question I cannot enter, nor do I think that the House of Commons would wish me to do so at the moment.
§ The PRIME MINISTERAt the moment.
§ Captain MACDONALDSurely, we are entitled to know if these British subjects have been definitely charged or not? That is the only question that I am asking, and I think the House is entitled to an answer.
§ Sir HERBERT SAMUELBefore the right hon. Gentleman answers, I would like to ask him whether it would not be in accordance with precedent, when a grave Measure of this kind is proposed, dealing with our relations with a foreign country, that the whole matter, or so much of the matter as is not of a confidential character, should be laid before Parliament in a White Paper? Otherwise, the House is not seized of the facts which would render a proposal of this kind, perhaps, admissible.
§ The PRIME MINISTERI beg the hon. and gallant Member's pardon; I misunderstood what he said. Actually at this moment it would not be in the interests of the accused for a statement to be made. It may be that to-morrow it would be, but at the moment I can assure the hon. and gallant Member and the House that it would not be in their interests. With reference to the question put by the right hon. Gentleman the Member for Darwen (Sir H. Samuel), for the moment it is enough to say that something will have to be done in any event, on account of the lapsing of the Trade Agreement on the 17th April. But the Bill itself will be in the Vote Office tomorrow as early as possible.
LANSBURYI really must press the right hon. Gentleman. The House, I am sure, wants only to know what is the terrible urgency of this legislation, that it must be passed in one day. Will not the right hon. Gentleman tell the House whether it has any connection in the mind of the Government with the recent events in Russia?
§ The PRIME MINISTEROn that point, my right hon. Friend must wait until the statement is made on the Second Reading of the Bill.
§ Mr. LANSBURYThe country has had a certain amount of information given it by Ministers, and we are told that there have been conversations in Moscow and in this country and despatches passing. Surely, if the legislation has any relation to this, the House is entitled to a White Paper giving the very fullest information in the possession of the Government.
§ The PRIME MINISTERAs I say, that information will be imparted to the House and the country on the Second Reading of the Bill.
§ Mr. LANSBURYHow are we to discuss it if we have to discuss it on a mere statement? We surely ought to have it in our hands at least 24 hours before the Bill is introduced. I repeat the question. Will the Prime Minister issue a White Paper giving the House and the country all the information in their possession with regard to the arrested British prisoners?
§ The PRIME MINISTERThe Bill is going to be published to-morrow, and I must really ask my right hon. Friend not 1435 to anticipate what is going to be in the Bill. It is a simple Measure, mainly a one-Clause Bill, though I believe there is a second Clause which is consequential. It will be in the hands of Members to-morrow and the statement that the Government have to make upon it will be made in the proper way on the Second Reading.
§ Major Sir ARCHIBALD SINCLAIRWill the Prime Minister explain why it is necessary to pass this Bill through all its stages in one day when the Trade Agreement will not lapse for a fortnight from now, and will he not further consider the importance of having the statement for which the right hon. Gentleman has asked, having regard to the fact that, immediately after the Minister's speech is made on the Second Reading, we shall be asked to pass the Bill through all its stages and shall have no time to consider the statement before the Bill is expected to pass to another place?
§ The PRIME MINISTERIt is necessary that the Bill should pass before the Easter Adjournment.
§ Mr. MAXTONArising out of the intimation on business, do I understand that the Prime Minister is asking the House to facilitate Government business on the Housing Bill so that we may have time for an unemployment Debate and for a Debate on a Bill to impose punitive taxation on Russian goods? If that is the case, we who sit in this part of the House will certainly not agree to any arrangement for the facilitation of Government business.
§ The PRIME MINISTERThe facilities that we ask for regarding the Rent Restrictions Bill are for the purpose of getting a Debate on unemployment.
§ Mr. LANSBURYI really must go back. Does the right hon. Gentleman intend to ask the House blindfold to pass legislation in reference to trade with Russia and give us absolutely no information except what the Government choose to give us on Wednesday on the Bill? I ask him to consider what sort of position he would take up if he stood here instead of me. All we are asking for is that the Government shall give to the country and the House of Commons the information which have compelled them to take so grave and serious a step.
§ The PRIME MINISTERI really have already answered that question. The information which would be given in the White Paper, which could not be issued before Wednesday morning, is the same information that the Government would give in moving the Second Reading of the Bill.
§ Mr. LANSBURYI apologise for being so persistent, but cannot you leave this until Thursday and give yourselves time to print a White Paper giving the information that you propose to give us verbally? Surely the House of Commons is not to be treated as a mere automaton registering the decision of the Government blindfold.
§ The PRIME MINISTERMy right hon. Friend has a very wrong impression of the House of Commons. What I have announced must be accepted by the House of Commons—
§ Mr. MACLEANWhy must it?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI did not say it must in that sense. I said nothing can be done without the consent of the House of Commons.
§ Mr. MAXTONYou are asking for opposition of the strongest kind, and you will get it.
§ The PRIME MINISTERI am very sorry to hear that. The Bill will be in Members' hands to-morrow and the Second Reading will be moved the next day.
§ Sir H. SAMUELWill the right hon. Gentleman say why the House should not be fully informed of the documents? There must have been an interchange of documents, and I submit that it is in acordance with practice that they should be presented to Parliament in a White Paper before the House of Commons is asked to take action. If the action to be taken is merely as regards the Trade Agreement, which lapses on 17th April, the situation is different, but the Prime Minister has not said that. If the action to be taken has relation to negotiations which have been proceeding with the Soviet Government with regard to the arrest of British subjects, I submit that there ought to be documents on the subject presented to Parliament prior to the Debate.
§ Mr. GEOFFREY PETOWill the right hon. Gentleman see that the interests of the British prisoners are not sacrificed?
§ Sir A. KNOXDoes the Prime Minister realise that he has the feeling of the great bulk of the country behind him in the matter?
§ Mr. McGOVERNDo not the Prime Minister and the Government think that action of this character at the present moment may prejudice the chances of a fair trial of the men who are arrested?
§ Mr. LANSBURYI beg to give notice, because I want to keep faith with the Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury, that in these circumstances we shall not dream of facilitating any Government business. I should like the Prime Minister to understand that the subject matter of the Resolution is as important as any question that may come before the House.