§ Colonel GRETTONMay I ask the Prime Minister how far he proposes to proceed with the Orders on the Paper tonight?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI am moving the Motion to suspend the Eleven o'Clock Rule in order to get down to and including the Amendments to Standing Orders.
§ Colonel GRETTONIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that there are four pages of Amendments to Standing Orders and that they appeared on the Paper only to-day? While no one wishes to obstruct necessary business, it is fair to the House that we should have a little time so that Members who may want to raise questions will have the opportunity of being able to put their case after consideration of the Amendments. I therefore ask the Prime Minister if he will be good enough to allow this Order to stand over until to-morrow?
§ The PRIME MINISTERIt is true that in bulk these Amendments look formidable, but I can assure the right hon. and gallant Member that if he will study them 741 he will find that they are mainly purely drafting Amendments. If in the course of the day any application is made, we shall be glad to consider it, but I should like the House at any rate to start on this Order. I am sure that hon. Members will find we shall finish in time.
§ Colonel GRETTONMay I represent to the right hon. Gentleman that it is hard to go through so many pages of Amendments and to compare them with the Standing Orders. We have no desire to obstruct, but I press the right hon. Gentleman to consider the last page or two of the Amendments.
§ The PRIME MINISTERI beg the right hon. and gallant Gentleman to allow the business to be started. I would remind him that these Amendments are the result of an agreed report of a Committee representing all parties of the House——
§ Mr. MAXTONNot all.
§ The PRIME MINISTERI will make one small exception. I feel sure that if the House will turn its attention to these Amendments to-night it will find that, although they are long, they are no more than drafting.
§ Major Sir ARCHIBALD SINCLAIRWhy were they put down only to-day?
§ The PRIME MINISTERThe reason is that no opposition has been displayed to them. As a matter of fact I learn that they have been down four or five days.
§
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)."—[The Prime Minister.]