§ Mr. LANSBURYMay I ask the Prime Minister the business for next week?
§ The PRIME MINISTEROn Monday, it is proposed to move Mr. Speaker out of the Chair on going into Committee of Supply on Civil Estimates and Estimates for Revenue Departments.
Tuesday, Supply, Committee, 4th allotted day.
Wednesday, Debate on the recent Trade Agreements.
Thursday, Second Reading of the Private Legislation Procedure (Scotland) Bill, and the Administration of Justice (Scotland) Bill; and a Motion to approve the Scottish Milk Marketing Scheme.
On any day, if there is time, other Orders will be taken.
During the week it is proposed to consider 'a Motion for an Address relating to the appointment of a Judge in the High Court of Justice (King's Bench Division), and to make further progress with the Exchange Equalisation Account Bill.
On Friday, Private Member's Bills will be considered.
§ Mr. LANSBURYWill the right hon. Gentleman tell the House whether the Debate on the recent Trade Agreements will be on a Motion to approve them? I take it that the Motion to appoint a Judge in the High Court does not refer to a new appointment?
§ The PRIME MINISTERThat is so.
§ Mr. LANSBURYWith regard to the Exchange Equalisation Account Bill, I notice that the Prime Minister said that 1019 further progress will be made. The Money Resolution is being moved today and the Bill is not yet introduced. We may want some time to discuss it, and we hope that the Government do not propose to put that down late at night.
§ The PRIME MINISTERThere will be a discussion on it to-day on the Money Resolution, and we will see what further progress can be made during the week.
§ Mr. LANSBURYIt is only the Money Resolution to-day?
§ The PRIME MINISTERThat is so.
§ Captain P. MACDONALDWhich Trade Agreementss are we taking on Wednesday?
§ The PRIME MINISTERWe propose to take them all.
§ Mr. LANSBURYWhat will be the Motion on Wednesday?
§ The PRIME MINISTERThe Adjournment of the House, which the Government will move.
§ Brigadier-General Sir HENRY CROFTWill there be any opportunity on Wednesday, should the House desire, to dissent from these agreements?
§ The PRIME MINISTERThere are two opportunities. One is to vote against the Adjournment, and if there is a further strong feeling that the Debate should be continued, we can utilise a Supply day for that purpose.
§ Mr. LANSBURYDo I understand the Prime Minister to say that in order to carry on the discussion on these Trade Agreements it will be possible on a Supply day, when we must not discuss legislation?
§ The PRIME MINISTERThere is no legislation. It is purely administrative.
§ Mr. LANSBURYIt seems to me that this is an extraordinary way of dealing with very important matters. The Government, in putting down these agreements for discussion, must have had in mind that the House may want to give a decision on the subject. If the discussion is on a Supply day, it must of necessity be much more restricted than if it is on a Motion to approve or disapprove. I should have thought that that was the best way to do it.
§ The PRIME MINISTEROf course, on Wednesday the Debate will he quite open. If a Supply day is put down for the purpose of continuing the Debate, it will give the House an opportunity of coming to a decision at the end of the Debate —I say, if the House wants a further opportunity. The Chairman must decide. I cannot imagine from my experience in this House that on matters which are purely administrative—the sanctioning of agreements being an executive action, and not legislative—there will be any restriction on the Debate.
§ Mr. LANSBURYI cannot accept the right hon. Gentleman's statement in regard to the agreements. The further point is that Supply days are not usually used for this sort of purpose, but for the purpose of bringing forward grievances which the Opposition desire to discuss. I am not sure that my friends here or elsewhere in the House who take our view of the subject would want to continue this discussion, but other Members on the Government side may want to do so, and I do not think that the right hon. Gentleman should seek to take away from us one of our Supply days.
§ The PRIME MINISTERThere must be some misunderstanding. That is not our suggestion at all. We are giving a full day to the discussion of these agreements. If the House desires a further day, we propose that it should have a Supply day. We give one day of Government time, and further time must be put down as a matter of exchange.
§ Sir AUSTEN CHAMBERLAINMay I appeal to my right hon. Friend to reconsider the form in which he is going to bring this matter before the House on Wednesday? I have no idea in my mind of opposing the agreements which are then to be put before the House, but I do submit that this is not one of those occasions on which the House merely desires to have an opportunity of discussing executive action, but where the Government really feel that they need the support of the House, and the opportunity ought to be such that the House can deal with the matter effectively if it so wishes.
§ The PRIME MINISTERI should imagine the House can deal quite effectively with this in the way proposed. I 1021 am sure that my right hon. Friend, with his jealousy in guarding certain executive rights, will agree that the fewer the occasions on which we submit these agreements, which are executive acts, for approval, the better for the House itself.
§ Sir A. CHAMBERLAINI understand the position of a Government who say, "We are going to maintain the prerogative of the Crown and to advise His Majesty to act upon it without consultation with the House." But when the Government think, as there has been a growing tendency on the part of all Governments to think, that His Majesty should be advised not to exercise his prerogative rights without the approval of this House, surely the occasion for discussion in this House ought to be of a character which gives the House an opportunity for effective action if it wishes to take it. Both the right hon. Gentleman and I have brought international agreements before this House and moved substantive Resolutions in regard to them.
§ The PRIME MINISTERWhat my right hon. Friend says about what has happened occasionally at other times is perfectly right, and if he noticed the language I used he will see that I am aware of it, but we are very anxious not to make that sort thing an ordinary procedure on the part of the House, and after the Debate the other day, at which I was not able to be present, we think that the views of the House regarding these agreements can very adequately be expressed in Debate, and later on adequately expressed by a Division, should a Division be challenged.
§ Sir P. HARRISVery strong opinions on another agreement were expressed last week by a certain section of the House from which the Government gets a large part of its support. Would it not be better to give a similar opportunity next Wednesday, so that the Government can have a Vote of Confidence in their policy?
§ Captain P. MACDONALDIn view of the fact that the choice of subjects for a Supply day is left in the hands of the official Opposition, and not the supporters of the Government, will the right hon. Gentleman undertake to give us an adequate opportunity of discussing this subject further on another day, in case 1022 the official Opposition do not put that subject down for a Supply day?
§ Mr. ATTLEEMay I remind the House that, as the hon. and gallant Member has just said, a Supply day provides an opportunity for the Opposition to raise certain points on which they may wish to take a Vote. The questions that arise on these various treaties concern various trade interests, and are not at all the sort, of subject for a Supply day.
§ The PRIME MINISTERI certainly was under the impression, and I have been so advised, that a Debate on Wednesday on a Motion for the Adjournment would give adequate opportunity, first of all for a full discussion, and, secondly, for an expression of views by the House in the Division Lobby.
§ Mr. LANSBURYWe really must clear up this point about the Supply days. So far as the Opposition are concerned, we have no desire to challenge a Debate on these agreements. We may desire to discuss them, but we are not prepared to ask for a Supply day in order that the supporters of the Government may have a vote against the Government which they are here to support.
§ The PRIME MINISTERI assume that if a second day were asked for it would be asked for by the Opposition.
§ Sir H. CROFTIn the event of there being such opposition on Wednesday of next week, is the right hon. Gentleman prepared to say that if there is a substantial vote against the Adjournment he will consider giving another day on so very important a matter?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI am afraid I cannot give any such pledge on a hypothetical question.
§ Sir A. CHAMBERLAINMay I ask you a question, Mr. Speaker, on a point of Order which may help to clear up some of our difficulties? Would it be in order to move a reasoned Amendment to a Motion for the Adjournment?
§ Mr. SPEAKERI should first like to see that reasoned Amendment.
§ Sir A. CHAMBERLAINAssuming the Motion for the Adjournment was made in the circumstances put by the Prime Minister, would it be in order to move as an 1023 Amendment, "That this House is unwilling to Adjourn until the Government has altered such-and-such a proposal in one of the agreements under discussion"?
§ Mr. SPEAKERI should like to have time to consider that point.
§ Sir A. CHAMBERLAINI hope the Prime Minister will also take time to consider it.
§ Mr. AMERYI would like to clear up one point put by the Prime Minister. He said that in the event of there being definite opposition next Wednesday he would be prepared to give another day, indicating Supply day—
§ The PRIME MINISTERNo; I do not want to have any misunderstanding about this. What I did say was that if there was any need for a second day, for the Debate I was perfectly certain the Opposition would join in expressing that feeling.
§ Mr. AMERYThen no further opportunity will be given unless it is asked for by those who are not particularly interested in this question?
§
Motion made, and Question put,
That other Government Business have precedence this day of the Business of Supply, and that the Proceedings on Government Business be exempted, at this day's Sitting, from the provisions of the Standing Order (Sittings of the House)."—[The Prime Minister.]
§ The House divided: Ayes, 335; Noes, 39.
1025| Division No. 157.] | AYES. | [4.10 p.m. |
| Adams, Samuel Vyvyan T. (Leeds, w.) | Cazalet, Thelma (Islington, E.) | Falle, Sir Bertram G. |
| Agnew, Lieut.-Com. P. G. | Cazalet, Capt. V. A. (Chlppenham) | Fermoy, Lord |
| Albery, Irving James | Chamberlain, Rt. Hn. Sir J. A.(Birm., W) | Flelden, Edward Brocklehurst |
| Allen, Lt.-Col. J. Sandeman (B'k'nh'd.) | Chamberlain, Rt. Hon. N. (Edgbaston) | Fleming, Edward Lascelles |
| Allien, William (Stoke-on-Trent) | Chapman, Sir Samuel (Edinburgh, S.) | Flint, Abraham John |
| Amery, Rt. Hon. Leopold C. M. S. | Chorlton, Alan Ernest Leofric | Foot, Dingle (Dundee) |
| Anstruther-Gray, W. J. | Clarke, Frank | Foot, Isaac (Cornwall, Bodmin) |
| Applln, Lieut.-Col. Reginald V. K. | Clayton, Dr. George C. | Forestler-Walker, Sir Leolln |
| Apsley, Lord | Cobb, Sir Cyril | Fox, Sir Glfford |
| Astbury, Lleut.-Com. Frederick Wolfe | Cochrane, Commander Hon. A. D. | Fraser, Captain Ian |
| Astor, Viscountess (Plymouth, Sutton) | Collins, Rt. Hon. Sir Godfrey | Fremantle, Sir Francis |
| Atholl, Duchess of | Coivllie, Lleut.-Colonel J. | Fuller, Captain A. G. |
| Baillie, Sir Adrian W. M. | Conant, R. J. E. | Ganzoni, Sir John |
| Baldwin, Rt. Hon. Stanley | Cook, Thomas A. | Glimour, Lt.-Col. Rt. Hon. Sir Joint |
| Balfour, Capt. Harold (I. of Thanet) | Cooke, Douglas | Glossop, C. W. H. |
| Balniel, Lord | Cooper, A. Duff | Gluckstein, Louis Halle |
| Barclay-Harvey, C. M. | Copeland, Ida | Glyn, Major Ralph G. C. |
| Barrie, Sir Charles Coupar | Courtauld, Major John Sewell | Goff, Sir Park |
| Beaumont, Hon. R. E. B.(Portsm'th, C.) | Cowan, D. M. | Goldle, Noel B. |
| Belt, Sir Alfred L. | Craddock, Sir Reginald Henry | Goodman, Colonel Albert W. |
| Benn, Sir Arthur Shirley | Croft, Brigadier-General Sir H. | Graham, Sir F. Fergus (C'mb'rl'd, N.) |
| Bernays, Robert | Crooke, J, Smedley | Granville, Edgar |
| Betterton, Rt. Hon. Sir Henry B. | Crookshank, Col. C. de Windt (Bootle) | Grattan-Doyle, Sir Nicholas |
| Blindell, James | Crookshank, Capt. H. C. (Galnsb'ro) | Gretton, Colonel Rt. Hon. John |
| Borodale, Viscount | Cross, R. H. | Griffith, F. Kingsley (Middlesbro', W.) |
| Boulton, W. W. | Cruddas, Lleut.-Colonel Bernard | Grlmston, R. V. |
| Bower, Lleut.-Com. Robert Tatton | Culverwell, Cyril Tom | Guinness, Thomas L. E. B. |
| Bowyer, Capt. Sir George E. W. | Davies, Maj. Geo. F. (Somerset, Yeovil) | Gunston, Captain D. W. |
| Boyce, H. Leslie | Davison, Sir William Henry | Guy, J. C. Morrison |
| Boyd-Carpenter, Sir Archibald | Denman, Hon. R. D. | Hales, Harold K. |
| Brass, Captain Sir William | Despencer-Robertson, Major J. A. F. | Hall, Capt. W. D'Arcy (Brecon) |
| Briscoe, Capt. Richard George | Donner, p. W. | Hamilton, Sir R.W.(Orkney & Zetl'nd) |
| Broadbent, Colonel John | Dower, Captain A. V. G. | Hanley, Dennis A. |
| Brocklebank, C. E. R. | Drewe, Cedric | Hannon, Patrick Joseph Henry |
| Brown, Col. D. C. (N'th'l'd., Hexham) | Duckworth, George A. V. | Harbord, Arthur |
| Brown, Ernest (Lelth) | Dugdale, Captain Thomas Lionel | Harris, Sir Percy |
| Brown, Brig.-Gen. H. C.(Berks., Newb'y) | Duggan, Hubert John | Hartington, Marquess of |
| Browne, Captain A. C. | Duncan, James A. L. (Kensington, N.) | Hartland, George A. |
| Buchan-Hepburn, P. G. T. | Edge, Sir William | Harvey, George (Lambeth, Kenn'gt'n) |
| Burghley, Lord | Elliot, Major Rt. Hon. Walter E. | Harvey, Major S. E. (Devon, Totnes) |
| Burgin, Dr. Edward Leslie | Ellis, Sir R. Geoffrey | Headlam, Lieut.-Col. Cuthbert M. |
| Burnett, John George | Elliston, Captain George Sampson | Heilgers, Captain F. F. A. |
| Burton, Colonel Henry Walter | Elmley, Viscount | Henderson, Sir Vivian L. (Chelmsford) |
| Butler, Richard Austen | Emmott, Charles E. G. C. | Heneage, Lleut.-Colonel Arthur P. |
| Butt, Sir Alfred | Emrys-Evans, P. V. | Herbert, Capt. S. (Abbey Division) |
| Caine, G. R. Hall- | Entwistle, Cyril Fullard | Hoare, Lt.-Col. Rt. Hon. Sir S. J. G. |
| Campbell, Vice-Admiral G. (Burnley) | Erskine, Lord (Weston-super-Mare) | Holdsworth, Herbert |
| Campbell-Johnston, Malcolm | Erskine-Boist, Capt. C. C. (Blackpool) | Hope, Capt. Hon. A. O. J. (Aston) |
| Caporn, Arthur Cecil | Essenhigh, Reginald Clare | Hore-Belisha, Leslie |
| Carver, Major William H. | Evans, Capt. Arthur (Cardiff, S.) | Hornby, Frank |
| Castiereagh, Viscount | Evans, R. T. (Carmarthen) | Home, Rt. Hon. Sir Robert S |
| Cautley, Sir Henry S. | Everard, W. Lindsay | Horobin, Ian M. |
| Horsbrugh, Florence | Morrison, William Shepherd | Shaw, Helen B. (Lanark, Bothwell) |
| Howitt, Dr. Alfred B. | Moss, Captain H J. | Shepperson, Sir Ernest W. |
| Hudson, Capt. A. U. M. (Hackney, N.) | Muirhead, Major A. J. | Slmmonds, Oliver Edwin |
| Hudson, Robert Spear (Southport) | Munro, Patrick | Skelton, Archibald Noel |
| Hunter. Capt. M. J. (Brigg) | Murray-Philipson, Hyiton Ralph | Slater, John |
| Hurd, Sir Percy | Nail-Cain, Hon. Ronald | Smiles, Lieut.-Col. Sir Walter D. |
| Hurst, Sir Gerald B. | Nation, Brigadier-General J. J. H. | Smith, Bracewell (Dulwich) |
| Iveagh, Countess of | Newton, Sir Douglas George C. | Smith. Louis W. (Sheffield, Hallam) |
| Jackson, Sir Henry (Wandsworth, C.) | Nicholson, Godfrey (Morpeth) | Smith-Carington, Neville W. |
| Jamieson, Douglas | Nicholson, Rt. Hn. W. G. (Petersf'ld) | Smithers, Waldron |
| Johnstone, Harcourt (S. Shields) | Normand. Wilfrid Guild | Somerset, Thomas |
| Jones, Lewis (Swansea, West) | North, Captain Edward T. | Somerville, Annesley A (Windsor) |
| Kerr, Hamilton W. | Nunn, William | Soper, Richard |
| Knight, Holford | Palmer, Francis Noel | Sotheron-Estcourt, Captain T. E. |
| Knox, Sir Alfred | Patrick, Colin M. | Southby, Commander Archibald R. J. |
| Lamb, Sir Joseph Quinton | Peaks, Captain Osbert | Spencer, Captain Richard A. |
| Lambert, Ht. Hon. George | Pearson, William G. | Spender-Clay, Rt. Hon. Herbert H. |
| Latham, Sir Herbert Paul | Peat, Charles U. | Stanley, Lord (Lancaster, Fylde) |
| Law, Sir Alfred | Petherick, M. | Stanley, Hon. O. F. G. (Westmorland) |
| Law, Richard K. (Hull, S.W.) | Peto, Sir Basil E. (Devon, Barnstaple) | Stevenson, James |
| Leckle, J. A. | Peto, Geoffrey K (W'verh'pfn, Bilston) | Stewart, J. H. (Fife, E.) |
| Leighton, Major B. E. P. | Pickering, Ernest H. | Stewart, William J. (Belfast, S.) |
| Lennox'Boyd, A. T. | Pike, Cecil F. | Storey, Samuel |
| Levy, Thomas | Potter, John | Stourton, Hon. John J. |
| Lewis, Oswald | Powell, Lieut.-Col. Evelyn G. H. | Strickland, Captain W. F. |
| Liddall, Walter S. | Power, Sir John Cecil | Stuart, Lord C. Crichton- |
| Lindsay, Noel Ker | Pownall, Sir Assheton | Sueter, Rear-Admiral Murray F. |
| Lister, Rt. Hon. Sir Philip Cunllffe- | Procter, Major Henry Adam | Sugden, Sir Wilfrid Hart |
| Lloyd, Geoffrey | Ralkes, Henry V. A. M. | Sutcilffe, Harold |
| Lockwood, John C. (Hackney, C.) | Ramsay, Alexander (W. Bromwich) | Tate, Mavis Constance |
| Loder, Captain J. de Vers | Ramsay, Capt. A. H. M. (Midlothian) | Templeton, William P. |
| Lovat-Fraser. James Alexander | Ramsay, T. B. W. (Western Isles) | Thomas, Rt. Hon. J. H. (Derby) |
| Lumley, Captain Lawrence R. | Ramsbotham, Herwaid | Todd, Capt. A. J. K. (B'wick-on-T.) |
| Lyons, Abraham Montagu | Rawson, Sir Cooper | Train, John |
| Mabane, William | Ray, Sir William | Tryon, Rt. Hon. George clement |
| MacAndrew, Lieut.-Col. C. G.(Partick) | Rea, Walter Russell | Turton, Robert Hugh |
| Mac Donald, Rt. Hon. J. R. (Seaham) | Reld, Capt. A. Cunnlngham- | Wallace, John (Dunfermline) |
| Macdonald, Capt. P. D. (I. of W.) | Reid, David D. (County Down) | Ward, Lt-Col. Sir A. L. (Hull) |
| McEwen, Captain J. H. F. | Reid, William Allan (Derby) | Ward, Irene Mary Bewick (Wallsend) |
| McKle, John Hamilton | Roberts, Sir Samuel (Ecclesall) | Wardlaw-Milne, Sir John S. |
| McLean, Major Sir Alan | Robinson, John Roland | Warrender, Sir Victor A. G. |
| McLean, Dr. W. H. (Tradeston) | Ropner, Colonel L, | Waterhouse, Captain Charles |
| Macqulsten, Frederick Alexander | Ross Taylor, Walter (Woodbridge) | Watt, Captain George Steven H. |
| Maitland, Adam | Ruggles-Brlse, Colonel E. A. | Wedderburn, Henry James Scrymgeour- |
| Makins, Brigadier-General Ernest | Runclman, Rt. Hon. Walter | Weymouth, Viscount |
| Mallalleu, Edward Lancelot | Runge, Norah Cecil | Whyte, Jardine Bell |
| Mander, Geoffrey le M | Russell, Alexander West (Tynemouth) | Williams, Charles (Devon, Torquay) |
| Manningham-Buller, Lt.-Col. Sir M. | Russell, Richard John (Eddlsbury) | Williams, Herbert G. (Croydon, S.) |
| Margesson, Capt. Rt. Hon. H. D. R. | Rutherford, John (Edmonton) | Wills, Wilfrid D. |
| Martin, Thomas B. | Rutherford, Sir John Hugo (Llverp'l) | Wilson, Clyde T. (West Toxteth) |
| Mason, David M. (Edinburgh, E.) | Salmon, Sir Isidore | Wilson, G. H. A. (Cambridge U.) |
| May hew, Lieut.-Colonel John | Salt, Edward W. | Windsor-Clive, Lieut.-Colonel George |
| Meller, Richard James | Samuel, Sir Arthur Michael (F'nham) | Wolmer, Rt. Hon. Viscount |
| Merriman, sir F. Boyd | Samuel, Rt. Hon. Sir H. (Darwen) | Womersley, Walter James |
| Mills, Sir Frederick (Leyton, E.) | Samuel, Samuel (W'dsworth, Putney) | Wood, Sir Murdoch McKenzie (Banff) |
| Mills, Major J. D. (New Forest) | Sandeman, Sir A. N. Stewart | Worthington, Dr. John V. |
| Milne, Charles | Sassoon, Rt. Hon. Sir Philip A. G. D. | Young, Rt. Hon. Sir Hilton (S'v'noaks) |
| Mitchell, Sir W. Lane (Streatham) | Savery, Samuel Servington | |
| Molson, A. Hugh Elsdale | Scone, Lord | TELLERS FOR THE AYES.— |
| Morgan, Robert H. | Selley, Harry R. | Sir Frederick Thomson and Sir |
| Morris-Jones, Dr. J. H. (Denbigh) | Shakespeare, Geoffrey H. | George Penny. |
| NOES. | ||
| Attlee, Clement Richard | Grundy, Thomas W. | Maxton, James |
| Batey, Joseph | Hall, George H. (Merthyr Tydyll) | M liner. Major James |
| Brown, C. W. E. (Notts., Mansfield) | Hirst. George Henry | Parkinson, John Allen |
| Cape, Thomas | Jenkins, Sir William | Price, Gabriel |
| Cocks, Frederick Seymour | John, William | Salter, Dr. Alfred |
| Cripps, Sir Stafford | Jones, Morgan (Caerphilly) | Thorne, William James |
| Daggar, George | Lansbury, Rt. Hon. George | Tinker, John Joseph |
| Davies, David L. (Pontypridd) | Lawson, John James | Wallhead, Richard C. |
| Davies, Rhys John (Westhoughton) | Leonard, William | Williams, David (Swansea, East) |
| Dobble, William | Logan, David Gilbert | Williams, Edward John (Ogmore) |
| Edwards, Charles | McEntee, Valentine L. | Williams, Dr. John H. (Llanelly) |
| George, Major G. Lloyd (Pembroke) | McGovern, John | |
| Graham, D. M. (Lanark, Hamilton) | Maclean, Nell (Glasgow, Govan) | TELLERS FOR THE NOES.— |
| Grenfell, David Rees (Glamorgan) | Mainwaring, William Henry | Mr. C. Macdonald and Mr. Groves. |
Question put, and agreed to.