§ Mr. ATTLEEMay I ask the Lord President whether he will state the business for next week; also, how far he intends to go if the Motion for the Suspension of the Eleven o'Clock Rule standing on the Paper in the name of the Prime Minister is carried. Further, can he tell us when the Vote on Account will be in the Vote Office?
§ Mr. BALDWINWith regard to the Motion in the name of the Prime Minister, there are three Orders which we desire to obtain—the Rural Water Supplies Bill, Second Reading; the Air Force Reserve (Pilots and Observers) Bill, Second Reading; and the Committee stage of the Money Resolution on North Atlantic Shipping (Advances). The Motion to approve the Amendment of the Hops Marketing Scheme will not be taken to-day. We propose to take in its place the Motion in regard to North Atlantic Shipping. I hope the House will recognise the urgency of this matter. We hope to obtain the Committee stage of the Resolution to-night. As to the Vote on Account, perhaps the hon. Gentleman will put himself in communication in the course of the day with my right hon. Friend by my side, who will be able, I hope, to supply the information, because I have not got it now.
§ Business for next week will be:
- Monday and Tuesday: Unemployment Bill, Committee (9th and 10th allotted days).
- Wednesday: Private Members' Motions.
- Thursday: First allotted Supply Day—Civil and Revenue Departments Vote on Account, Committee stage—Debate on the Russian Trade Agreement.
- Friday: Private Members' Bills.
§ On any day, if there is time, other Orders may be taken.
§ If the Committee stage of the North Atlantic Shipping Money Resolution is obtained to-night, it is proposed to take the Report stage of the Resolution on Monday, in order that the Bill may be brought in, printed and made available to Members at the earliest date.
§ I am informed that the Vote on Account was circulated last Saturday.
§ Mr. MAXTONI am not aware of the negotiations which are taking place through the usual channels, but do I understand that the first allotted Supply Day is to be utilised for Government business?
§ Mr. BALDWINThere is no regulation of any kind which prevents anything being raised on that occasion. If one subject is raised and discussed, it does not prevent other subjects being discussed—unless the discussion on the first subject occupies the whole day. In my recollection, more than one subject is generally taken on a day. I do not quite see the point of the hon. Member.
§ Mr. MAXTONDo I understand that the Board of Trade Vote is to be taken on the first Supply Day——
§ Mr. BALDWINYes.
§ Mr. MAXTON—and with other business. But the question of the Russian Trade Agreement is Government Business, which presumably will be brought before the House by the Government and not on the request of the Opposition.
§ Mr. BALDWINI understood that there was a general desire on the part of the House that this agreement should be discussed. This is the first occasion on which it could be discussed—I am not sure, without reference, whether it is the only occasion, but there certainly will not be any ordinary Supply Days this side of Easter. The first, and probably the only, occasion is the Debate on Thursday of next week. I do not know who is going to open the Debate, but obviously a Member of the Government 514 will give such explanations to the House as they may desire and to enable discussion to take place profitably.
§ Mr. MAXTONI am afraid I have not made my point clear. Am I wrong in believing that the Government are under an obligation to bring the Russian Trade Agreement before this House for endorsement? If that is so, I am entering my protest against a Supply Day, which is an Opposition day, being used for the furtherance of Government Business.
§ Sir WILLIAM DAVISONCan the Lord President inform the House, as I think was understood from previous assurances, that we shall have an opportunity of definitely expressing our opinion whether or not the Trade Agreement with Russia is to be ratified?
§ Mr. BALDWINI think I have now got the point of the hon. Member for Bridgeton (Mr. Maxton). The House was told some time ago that before the agreement was ratified it should be brought before the House for discussion, and this is a convenient opportunity to do so, and, in that way, to meet the wishes of the House. It is not being forced on the House by the Government. It is immaterial to us what we discuss; we expect to be challenged on anything.
§ Mr. MAXTONI am sorry to press this business. Do I understand that if on that Supply Day the Vote is carried by the House, that it automatically ratifies the Russian Treaty?
§ Mr. C. WILLIAMSOn that point, surely the agreement will not have to be officially ratified by the House at all? We shall be simply discussing it on a Supply Day, and we do not officially ratify it?
§ Mr. BALDWINNot at all. But it is open to hon. Members to frame a Resolution in such a form as would enable those who disapprove of the agreement to vote against it.
§ Sir H. SAMUELIs there any precedent for the course that has been taken, or will this set a new precedent—that foreign agreements which have to be brought before the House are to be taken on Supply Days?
§ Mr. BALDWINI do not think that as a rule foreign agreements have to be brought before the House.
§ Sir W. DAVISONDo we understand that the whole Board of Trade Vote will have to be thrown out if the House disagrees with the Trade Agreement?
§ Motion made, and Question put:
516"That the Proceedings on Government Business be exempted, at this day's Sitting, from the provisions of the Standing Order (Sittings of the House)."—[Mr. Baldwin.]
§ The House divided: Ayes, 256; Noes, 31.
517| Division No. 120.] | AYES. | [3.49 p.m. |
| Acland-Troyte, Lieut.-Colonel | Entwistle, Cyril Fullard | Marsden, Commander Arthur |
| Adams, Samuel Vyvyan T. (Leeds, W.) | Erskine, Lord (Weston-super-Mare) | Martin, Thomas B. |
| Albery, Irving James | Evans, Capt. Arthur (Cardiff, S.) | Mason, David M. (Edinburgh, E.) |
| Allen, William (Stoke-on-Trent) | Evans, David Owen (Cardigan) | Mayhew, Lieut.-Colonel John |
| Anstruther-Gray, W. J. | Evans, Capt. Ernest (Welsh Univ.) | Meller, Sir Richard James |
| Apsley, Lord | Evans, R. T. (Carmarthen) | Mills, Sir Frederick (Layton, E.) |
| Astor, Viscountess (Plymouth, Sutton) | Everard, W. Lindsay | Mills, Major J. D. (New Forest) |
| Atholl, Duchess of | Fermoy, Lord | Mitchell, Sir W. Lane (Streatham) |
| Baldwin, Rt. Hon. Stanley | Fleming, Edward Lascelies | Mitcheson, G. G. |
| Baldwin-Webb, Colonel J. | Foot, Isaac (Cornwall, Bodmin) | Monsell, Rt. Hon. Sir B. Eyres |
| Balniel, Lord | Fox, Sir Gifford | Morris, Owen Temple (Cardiff, E.) |
| Barclay-Harvey, C. M. | Gillett, Sir George Masterman | Morris-Jones, Dr. J. H. (Denbigh) |
| Barton, Capt. Basil Kelsey | Gilmour, Lt.-Col. Rt. Hon. Sir John | Moss, Captain H. J. |
| Beauchamp, Sir Brograve Campbell | Glossop, C. W. H. | Muirhead, Lieut.-Colonel A. J. |
| Beaumont, Hon. R.E.B. (Portsm'th, C.) | Gluckstein, Louis Halle | Nation, Brigadier-General J. J. H. |
| Beit, Sir Alfred L. | Glyn, Major Sir Ralph G. C. | Nicholson, Godfrey (Morpeth) |
| Benn, Sir Arthur Shirley | Goff, Sir Park | Nicholson, Rt. Hn. W. G. (Petersf'ld) |
| Birchall, Major Sir John Dearman | Goldie, Noel B. | Normand, Rt. Hon. Wilfrid |
| Blindell, James | Goodman, Colonel Albert W. | North, Edward T. |
| Borodale, Viscount | Graham, Sir F. Fergus (C'mb'rl'd, N.) | Nunn, William |
| Bossom, A. C. | Granville, Edgar | Oman, Sir Charles William C. |
| Boulton, W. W. | Graves, Marjorie | Ormsby-Gore, Rt. Hon. William G. A. |
| Bowyer, Capt. Sir George E. W. | Grimston, R. V. | Patrick, Colin M. |
| Brass, Captain Sir William | Gunston, Captain D. W. | Peake, Captain Osbert |
| Broadbent, Colonel John | Guy, J. C. Morrison | Pearson, William G. |
| Brocklebank, C. E. R. | Hacking, Rt. Hon. Douglas H. | Perkins, Walter R. D. |
| Brown, Ernest (Leith) | Hamilton, Sir George (Ilford) | Peters, Dr. Sidney John |
| Browne, Captain A. C. | Hamilton, Sir R. W. (Orkney & Zetl'nd) | Peto, Sir Basil E. (Devon, Barnstaple) |
| Buchan, John | Harris, Sir Percy | Procter, Major Henry Adam |
| Buchan-Hepbur.n, P. G. T. | Haslam, Henry (Horncastle) | Ramsay, Capt. A. H. M. (Midlothian) |
| Bullock, Captain Malcolm | Henderson, Sir Vivian L. (Chelmsford) | Ramsay, T. B. W. (Western Isles) |
| Burgin, Dr. Edward Leslie | Heneage, Lieut.-Colonel Arthur P. | Ramsbotham, Herwald |
| Butler, Richard Austen | Hills, Major Rt. Hon. John Waller | Rankin, Robert |
| Cadogan, Hon. Edward | Holdsworth, Herbert | Ratcliffe, Arthur |
| Caine, G. R. Hall- | Hope, Capt. Hon. A. O. J. (Aston) | Rathbone, Eleanor |
| Campbell, Sir Edward Taswell (Brmly) | Hore-Belisha, Leslie | Ray, Sir William |
| Campbell-Johnston, Malcolm | Horsbrugh, Florence | Rea, Walter Russell |
| Caporn, Arthur Cecil | Hudson, Capt. A. U. M. (Hackney, N.) | Reid, James S. C. (Stirling) |
| Carver, Major William H. | Hudson, Robert Spear (Southport) | Reid, William Allan (Derby) |
| Castlereagh, Viscount | Hunter, Capt. M. J. (Brigg) | Renwick, Major Gustav A. |
| Cautley, Sir Henry S. | Hurd, Sir Percy | Rickards, George William |
| Cazalet, Thelma (Islington, E.) | Jackson, Sir Henry (Wandsworth, C.) | Rosbotham, Sir Thomas |
| Cazalet, Capt. V. A. (Chippenham) | James, Wing-Com. A. W. H. | Ross, Ronald D. |
| Chamberlain, Rt. Hon. Sir J. A. (Birm., W) | Jesson, Major Thomas E. | Ruggles-Brise, Colonel E. A. |
| Chamberlain, Rt. Hon. N. (Edgbaston) | Joel, Dudley J. Barnato | Runge, Norah Cecil |
| Chapman, Col. R. (Houghton-le-Spring) | Johnstone, Harcourt (S. Shields) | Russell, Hamer Field (Sheffield, B'tside) |
| Chorlton, Alan Ernest Leofric | Jones, Lewis (Swansea, West) | Russell, R. J. (Eddisbury) |
| Christle, James Archibald | Ker, J. Campbell | Rutherford, John (Edmonton) |
| Clarke, Frank | Kerr, Hamilton W. | Rutherford, Sir John Hugo (Liverp'l) |
| Clarry, Reginald George | Knox, Sir Alfred | Salmon, Sir Isidore |
| Clayton, Sir Christopher | Lamb, Sir Joseph Quinton | Samuel, Sir Arthur Michael (F'nham) |
| Conant, R. J. E. | Lambert, Rt. Hon. George | Samuel, Rt. Hon. Sir H. (Darwen) |
| Cooke, Douglas | Law, Sir Alfred | Sandeman, Sir A. N. Stewart |
| Cooper, A. Duff | Law, Richard K. (Hull, S. W.) | Savery, Samuel Servington |
| Craddock, Sir Reginald Henry | Leech, Dr. J. W. | Scone, Lord |
| Craven-Ellis, William | Lees-Jones, John | Shakespeare, Geoffrey H. |
| Croft, Brigadier-General Sir H. | Levy, Thomas | Shaw, Helen B. (Lanark, Bothwell) |
| Crooke, J. Smedley | Lewis, Oswald | Simmonds, Oliver Edwin |
| Crookshank, Capt. H. C. (Gainsb'ro) | Locker-Lampson, Rt. Hn. G. (Wd, G'n) | Sinclair, Col. T. (Queen's Unv., Belfast) |
| Cross, R. H. | Lockwood, John C. (Hackney, C.) | Skelton, Archibald Noel |
| Culverwell, Cyril Tom | Loder, Captain J. de Vere | Smith, R. W. (Ab'rd'n & Kinc'dine, C.) |
| Dalkeith, Earl of | Lumley, Captain Lawrence R. | Smithers, Waldron |
| Davison, Sir William Henry | Mabane, William | Somerville, Annesley A (Windsor) |
| Denman, Hon. R. D. | MacAndrew, Lieut.-Col. C. G. (Partick) | Soper, Richard |
| Denville, Alfred | MacAndrew, Capt. J. O. (Ayr) | Sotheron-Estcourt, Captain T. E. |
| Despencer-Robertson, Major J. A. F. | MacDonald, Rt. Hon. J. R. (Seaham) | Southby, Commander Archibald R. J. |
| Donner, P. W. | McKie, John Hamilton | Spears, Brigadier-General Edward L. |
| Doran, Edward | McLean, Major Sir Alan | Spencer, Captain Richard A. |
| Drewe, Cedric | McLean, Dr. W. H. (Tradeston) | Spender-Clay, Rt. Hon. Herbert H. |
| Duckworth, George A. V. | Maitland, Adam | Spens, William Patrick |
| Duggan, Hubert John | Makins, Brigadier-General Ernest | Stanley, Rt. Hon. Lord (Fylde) |
| Elliot, Rt. Hon. Walter | Mander, Geoffrey le M. | Stanley, Hon. O. F. G. (Westmorland) |
| Elmley, Viscount | Manningham-Buller, Lt.-Col. Sir M. | Steel-Maitland, Rt. Hon. Sir Arthur |
| Emrys-Evans, P. V. | Margesson, Capt. Rt. Hon. H. D. R. | Stewart, J. H. (Fife, E.) |
| Stewart, William J. (Belfast, S.) | Turton, Robert Hugh | Wills, Wilfrid D. |
| Storey, Samuel | Wallace, Captain D. E. (Hornsey) | Wilson, Clyde T. (West Toxteth) |
| Stourton, Hon. John J. | Ward, Lt.-Col. Sir A. L. (Hull) | Windsor-Clive, Lieut.-Colonel George |
| Strauss, Edward A. | Ward, Irene Mary Bewick (Wallsend) | Wise, Alfred R. |
| Strickland, Captain W. F. | Ward, Sarah Adelaide (Cannock) | Womersley, Walter James |
| Sutcliffe, Harold | Warrender, Sir Victor A. G. | Wood, Sir Murdoch McKenzie (Banff) |
| Tate, Mavis Constance | Waterhouse, Captain Charles | Worthington, Dr. John V. |
| Templeton, William P. | Watt, Captain George Steven H. | Young, Rt. Hon. Sir Hilton (S'v'oaks) |
| Thomas, Rt. Hon. J. H. (Derby) | Wedderburn, Henry James Scrymgeour | |
| Thomas, James P. L. (Hereford) | Whiteside, Borras Noel H. | TELLERS FOR THE AYES.— |
| Thompson, Sir Luke | Williams, Charles (Devon, Torquay) | Sir Frederick Thomson and Sir George Penny. |
| Titchfield, Major the Marquess of | Williams, Herbert G. (Croydon, S.) | |
| Tryon, Rt. Hon. George Clement | Willoughby de Eresby, Lord | |
| NOES. | ||
| Adams, D. M. (Poplar, South) | Groves, Thomas E. | Mainwaring, William Henry |
| Banfield, John William | Hall, George H. (Merthyr Tydvil) | Milner, Major James |
| Batey, Joseph | Jenkins, Sir William | Paling, Wilfred |
| Bevan, Aneurin (Ebbw Vale) | John, William | Parkinson, John Allen |
| Brown, C. W. E. (Notts., Mansfield) | Jones, Morgan (Caerphilly) | Smith, Tom (Normanton) |
| Cape, Thomas | Kirkwood, David | Tinker, John Joseph |
| Cocks, Frederick Seymour | Leonard, William | Wedgwood, Rt. Hon. Joslah |
| Daggar, George | Logan, David Gilbert | Williams, Dr. John H. (Llanelly) |
| Davies, David L. (Pontypridd) | Macdonald, Gordon (Ince) | Wilmot, John |
| Edwards, Charles | McEntee, Valentine L. | |
| Grenfell, David Rees (Glamorgan) | Maclean, Nell (Glasgow, Govan) | TELLERS FOR THE NOES.— |
| Mr. Maxton and Mr. Buchanan. |