§ 44. Mr. TINKERasked the Prime Minister is he is aware that when the closure was applied on Monday at 7.30 Clause 38 of the Unemployment Bill had not been reached; and will he consider re-committing it so that an opportunity can be given for its consideration?
§ 45. Mr. BATEYasked the Prime Minister if he is aware that, during the consideration of Clause 37 of the Unemployment Bill in Committee, there was no opportunity of discussing the needs test, nor the 50 per cent. of disability pensions and workmen's compensation; and will he arrange that Clause 37 be recommitted so that these important matters can be considered?
§ The PRIME MINISTER (Mr. Ramsay MacDonald)I would refer hon. Members to what my right hon. Friend, the Lord President of the Council, said on this subject on Monday last.
§ Mr. TINKERI have read the reply of the right hon. Gentleman, but I would ask the Prime Minister whether the Clause mentioned, which we did not reach, had not 23 Amendments down to it, and when that careful consideration is 1106 being given to this matter will more attention be paid to this Clause?
§ Mr. LAWSONIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that the Lord President of the Council simply referred us to his answers previously given in the House?
§ The PRIME MINISTERTherefore his answer was quite accurate.
§ Mr. LAWSONIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that the means test was concerned in this matter, and that what happened caused great disappointment among all parties in the House, and will he not seriously reconsider the recommittal?
§ The PRIME MINISTERThat point was covered by my right hon. Friend's answer.
§ Mr. BATEYIs the Prime Minister aware that the answer of the Lord President of the Council and the Prime Minister's former answers applied only to Clauses that had not been discussed? Clause 37 deals with the means test, but, though the Clause was partly discussed, the means test was never covered. What I am asking is whether the Prime Minister will put down this Clause again, so that we can have an opportunity of discussing the means test, which was the kernel, or ought to have been the kernel, of the discussion?
§ The PRIME MINISTERMy hon. Friend may rest assured that what my right hon. Friend said covers that point.
§ Mr. ATTLEEWill the right hon. Gentleman go carefully through the proceedings on this Bill and the Order Papers and see the number of instances where important points of principle and points of administration have not been discussed, and consider whether it is not possible to arrange for the recommittal of certain Clauses or parts of Clauses which have received no proper discussion?
§ The PRIME MINISTERThat is only a paraphrase of what my right hon. Friend said.
§ Mr. HERBERT WILLIAMSIs it not the case that some of the trouble arose because hon. Members opposite take so long to say what they have to say?
§ Mr. PALINGIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that the only answer we have been able to get in the past has been that consideration will be given to the matter, and, in view of the fact that certain Clauses of the utmost importance have never been touched at all in Committee, is it too much to ask that he will now come to a decision and tell us that he will recommit the Bill?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI can only repeat that every consideration will be given to the matter.