BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE. (Hansard, 1 March 1934)

§ Mr. ATTLEE
May I ask the Prime Minister what will be the business for next week?

§ The PRIME MINISTER (Mr. Ramsay MacDonald)
Monday: consideration of Civil Supplementary Estimates in Com- 1276 mittee of Supply. I will have the titles of the Estimates in the order in which we propose to take them circulated in the OFFICIAL REPORT and placed on the Order Paper to-night.
Tuesday: Indian Pay (Temporary Abatements) Bill, Second Reading; consideration of the following Supplementary Estimates—India Office and Services; Post Office; Fishery Board for Scotland; and any outstanding Supplementary Estimates in Committee or on Report.
Wednesday: North Atlantic Shipping Bill, Second Reading; British Hydrocarbon Oil Production Bill, Report and Third Reading; Rural Water Supplies Bill, Committee stage; Post Office (Sites) Bill, Second Reading; and further consideration of Supplementary Estimates if necessary.
Thursday: It is proposed to move Mr. Speaker out of the Chair on the Air Estimates and to consider Votes A, 1, 4, 3, and 8 in Committee; Air Force Reserve (Pilots and Observers) Bill, remaining stages.
Friday: Private Members' Bills.
On any day, if there is time, other Orders may be taken.

§ Mr. ATTLEE
May I ask the Prime Minister if he can state when the Air Estimates will be obtainable by the House, and also whether it will be possible to have the Army and the Navy Estimates in the hands of hon. Members before we have a discussion on this Service?

§ The PRIME MINISTER
It is a very desirable thing that the Estimates for the three Services should be published before we discuss any of them, but this year, I am sorry to say, it is not possible. The Air Estimates will be circulated to-morrow.

§ Mr. ATTLEE
Does the right hon. Gentleman realise that, perhaps this year more than any other year, it is of very great importance that we should know something with regard to these Services? Is it not possible to expedite the matter because the discussion of one Estimate without knowledge of the other Estimates would be a great disadvantage in view of the extraordinary importance of the subject to the House.

§ The PRIME MINISTER
We have done our best, and it has been impossible to achieve that object.

§ Sir HERBERT SAMUEL
In regard to the order in which the Supplementary Estimates are to be put down, will the right hon. Gentleman take care that the House has an opportunity of discussing at a reasonable hour the Estimate suggested for the renewal of the beet-sugar subsidy?

§ The PRIME MINISTER
We will see how we get on. Any representations which are necessary can be made.

§ Colonel GRETTON
May I ask the Prime Minister if the Government expect to get the whole of the Air Estimates on Thursday next, seeing that they want both Vote A and the other Votes which he announced as being set down for consideration on Thursday?

§ The PRIME MINISTER
We hope to get them. I know that it looks to be a very formidable announcement, but, as a matter of fact, these Votes are always put down in this way. The House understands the reason and always helps whatever Government is in power to get the necessary stages to enable these things to go on.

§ Colonel GRETTON
Is it not the fact that it is necessary to get a Vote on Account of Vote A and Vote 1, and that the other Votes are usually reserved for a later date in the Session so that questions on the Air Service may be raised after the Vote on Account has been obtained?

§ The PRIME MINISTER
These are the Air Estimates, but the procedure which I have announced, I can assure my right hon. and gallant Friend, is the ordinary procedure which has always been pursued.