§ Mr. LANSBURYMight I ask the Prime Minister what business he proposes to get through to-night if the Motion on the Paper to suspend the Eleven o'Clock Rule is carried? I should also like to ask what arrangements have been made for this House to present an Address of Congratulation to His Majesty on the occasion of his Silver Jubilee?
§ The PRIME MINISTER (Mr. Ramsay MacDonald)Regarding the question of business first, the Eleven o'Clock Rule is being suspended in order to obtain the 367 three Works Votes which are on the Order Paper, namely, Class 7, Vote 3 (Labour and Health Buildings, Great Britain), 7A (Silver Jubilee), and 8 (Public Buildings, Overseas).
As regards the second question, the Government propose on Wednesday, 8th May, to move for an Address of Congratulation to His Majesty The King on the occasion of the 25th Anniversary of His reign. A similar Motion for an Address will be moved in another place. His Majesty has been pleased to indicate that it will be his pleasure to come to Westminster Hall on Thursday, 9th May, to receive both Addresses. In order to facilitate the arrangements, it would be convenient if Members who intend to be present on this occasion would sign their names not later than 10th April in the book which will be kept for the purpose in the office of Mr. Speaker's Secretary. Further details with regard to the ceremony will be announced later.
§ Mr. CHURCHILLFurther on the question of business, might I ask the Prime Minister—and I apologise to him for not having been able to give him longer, or fuller, or more definite notice —whether, in view of the answer given by the Foreign Secretary to Question No. 5 this day about the relative strengths of the British and German Air Forces, he will reconsider the answer which he gave to my Noble Friend the right hon. Member for Horsham (Earl Winterton) yesterday in respect of providing some occasion to debate these urgent and serious matters?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI am sorry I have had no notice of this question, but, if I had, I am afraid I could only give the answer that I will give now, that the State of public business is so pressing that we cannot, at any rate for the moment, set aside any special day for a discussion on this subject. There will be opportunities, like the adjournment, for raising the question, and the other adjournments that are available. I am sorry, but if I asked the right hon. Gentleman to give me notice, I am afraid I should be compelled, in view of the state of public business, to give him the same answer.
§ Mr. CHURCHILLBut will not the right hon. Gentleman, attaching all the 368 weight which he no doubt should to the state of public business, also take into consideration the fact that the answer given by the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs to-day is in direct contradiction, in respect of the relative strengths of the Air Forces of the two countries, to the solemn, deliberate, and reiterated Ministerial statements which have been made on behalf of His Majesty's Government, and that it is a matter of such grave importance that some special arrangements should be made to enable the House of Commons, which shares with the Government responsibility for the safety of the country, to participate and to take stock of the existing situation?
§ Mr. LANSBURYIf it is considered advisable to discuss this matter, would it not be possible to take a Supply Day early—I am not asking for any extra time—but one of the Supply Days, either on an Army Vote or the right hon. Gentleman's own Vote, in order to discuss this matter?
§ The PRIME MINISTERRaising that question as well only shows the desirability of my having notice of the question, but that must not be understood as a half acceptance of the proposal.
§ Mr. KIRKWOODI would like to ask the Prime Minister what is the reason for Members of Parliament being required to sign a. book to go to Westminster Hall in order that those congratulations may be presented to His Majesty?
§ The PRIME MINISTEREverybody is entitled to go, and, so far as the Government are concerned, everybody ought to go, but in order that proper arrangements may be made, it is convenient that they should be good enough just to go and sign this book, so that we may know, for instance, what number of seats should be provided.
I am sorry I overlooked an item of business that we propose to take in the event of the suspension of the Eleven o' Clock Rule. The Government also propose to take the Committee and remaining stages of the Land Drainage (Scotland) Bill, which it is understood is not a contentious Measure.
§ Lieut.-Colonel HENEAGEWill the Prime Minister, when deciding whether time shall be allotted to discuss the air 369 question, also appreciate that there are many Members in this House who would like to discuss the three Services together?
§ The PRIME MINISTERindicated assent.
Duchess of ATHOLLWould it not be possible for one of the four days which, I understand, are proposed to be devoted to the Government of India Bill next
§ week to be allotted to this very pressing question?
§
Motion made, and Question put,
"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 divied: Ayes, 233; Noes, 38
371| Division No.139.] | AYES. | 3.38 p.m.] |
| Acland-Troyte, Lieut.-Colonel | Erskine-Bolst,. Capt. C. C. (Blackpool) | Loftus, Pierce C. |
| Adams, Samuel Vyvyan T. (Leeds. W.) | Essenhigh, Reginald Clare | Lovat-Fraser, James Alexander |
| Allen, Lt.-Col. J. Sandeman (B'k'nh'd.) | Evans, R. T. (Carmarthen) | Lumley, Captain Lawrence R. |
| Assheton, Ralph | Everard, W. Lindsay | Mabane, William |
| Atholl, Duchess of | Fermoy, Lord | MacAndrew, Capt. J. O.(Ayr) |
| Baillie, Sir Adrian W. M. | Fielden, Edward Brocklehurst | McConnell, Sir Joseph |
| Baldwin, Rt. Hon. Stanley | Fleming Edward Lascelies | MacDonald, Rt. Hon. J. R. (Seaham) |
| Balfour, Capt. Harold (I. of Thanet) | Fox, Sir Gifford | Macdonald. Capt. P. D. (I. of W.) |
| Barclay-Harvey, C. M. | Ganzonl, Sir John | McEwen, Captain J. H. F. |
| Barrie, Sir Charles Coupar | Gilmour, Lt.-Col. Rt. Hon. Sir John | McKie, John Hamilton |
| Beauchamp, Sir Brograve Campbell | Glossop, C. W. H. | Maclay, Hon. Joseph Paton |
| Beaumont, Hon. R. E. B.(Portsm'th,C.) | Gluckstein, Louls Halle | McLean, Major Sir Alan |
| Bernays, Robert | Glyn, Major Sir Ralph G. C. | McLean, Dr. W. H. (Tradeston) |
| Blindell, James | Goldie, Noel B. | Macmillan, Maurice Harold |
| Bower, Commander Robert Tatton | Goodman, Colonel Albert W. | Magnay, Thomas |
| Bowyer, Capt. Sir George E. W. | Grattan-Doyle, Sir Nicholas | Mallalieu, Edward Lancelot |
| Brass, Captain Sir William | Gretton, Colonel Rt. Han. John | Mander, Geoffrey le M. |
| Briscoe, Capt. Richard George | Grigg, Sir Edward | Manningham-Buller, Lt.-Col. Sir M. |
| Broadbent, Colonel John | Guest, Capt. Rt. Hon. F. E. | Margesson, Capt. Rt. Hon. H. D. R. |
| Brocklebank, C. E. R. | Gunston, Captain D. W. | Martin, Thomas B. |
| Brown, Ernest (Leith) | Guy. J. C. Morrison | Mason, David M. (Edinburgh, E.) |
| Brown, Brig.-Gen. H. C. (Berks., Newb'y) | Hacking, Rt. Hon, Douglas H. | Mayhew, Lieut.-Colonel John |
| Browne, Captain A. C. | Hamilton, Sir R. W. (Orkney & Zetl'nd) | Mills, Sir Frederick (Leyton, E.) |
| Burghley, Lord | Hanbury, Cecil | Mills, Major J. D. (New Forest) |
| Burgin, Dr. Edward Leslie | Hannon, Patrick Joseph Henry | Molson, A. Hugh Elsdale |
| Burnett, John George | Harris, Sir Percy | Monsell, Rt. Hon. Sir B. Eyres |
| Campbell, Vice-Admiral G. (Burnley) | Hartington, Marquees of | Moore, Lt.-Col. Thomas C. R. (Ayr) |
| Castlereagh, Viscount | Harvey, George (Lambeth, Kenningt'n) | Morris-Jones, Dr. J. H. (Denbigh) |
| Cayzer, Sir Charles (Chester, City) | Harvey, Major Sir Samuel (Totnes) | Munro, Patrick |
| Cazalet, Thelma (Islington, K.) | Haslam, Henry (Horncastle) | Nation, Brigadier-General J. J. H. |
| Chorlton, Alan Ernest Leofric | Headlam, Lieut.-Col. Cuthbert M. | Nicholson, Godfrey (Morpeth) |
| Christie, James Archibald | Hellgers, Captain F. F. A. | Nicholson, Rt. Hn. W. G. (Petersf'ld) |
| Churchill, Rt. Hon. Winston Spencer | Henderson, Sir Vivian L. (Chelmsford) | Ormsby-Gore, Rt. Hon. William G. A. |
| Clarry, Reginald George | Heneage, Lieut.-Colonel Arthur P. | Peat, Charles U. |
| Cobb, Sir Cyril | Herbert, Major J. A. (Monmouth) | Percy, Lord Eustace |
| Cochrane, Commander Hon. A. D. | Herbert, Capt. S. (Abbey Division) | Pickthorn, K. W. M. |
| Colfox, Major William Philip | Hore-Belisha, Leslie | Pybus, Sir John |
| Collins, Rt. Hon. Sir Godfrey | Howard, Tom Forrest | Radford, E. A. |
| Colman, N. C. D. | Howitt, Dr. Alfred B. | Ralkes, Henry V. A. M. |
| Colville, Lieut.-Colonel J. | Hudson, Capt. A. U. M. (Hackney, N.) | Ramsay, T. B. W. (Western Isles) |
| Conant, R. J. E, | Hudson, Robert Spear (Southport) | Ramsden, Sir Eugene |
| Cook, Thomas A. | Hunter. Capt. M. J. (Brigg) | Rea, Walter Russell |
| Cooke, Douglas | Hurst, Sir Gerald B. | Reed, Arthur C. (Exeter) |
| Cooper, A. Duff | Jackson, Sir Henry (Wandsworth, C.) | Reld, James S. C. (Stirling) |
| Copeland, Ida | James, Wing.-Com. A. W. H. | Reld, William Allan (Derby) |
| Courthope, Colonel Sir George L. | Jesson, Major Thomas E. | Rhys, Hon. Charles Arthur U. |
| Crooke, J. Smedley | Joel, Dudley J. Barnato | Rickards, George William |
| Crookshank, Capt. H. C. (Gainsb'ro) | Johnstone, Harcourt (S. Shields) | Ross Taylor, Walter (Woodbridge) |
| Cross, R. H. | Jones, Lewis (Swansea, West) | Rothschild, James A. de |
| Davies, Edward C. (Montgomery) | Ker, J. Campbell | Ruggles-Brise, Colonel Sir Edward |
| Davies, Maj. Geo. F. (Somerset, Yeovil) | Kerr, Hamilton W. | Runciman, Rt. Hon. Walter |
| Dawson, Sir Philip | Keyes, Admiral Sir Roger | Russell, Albert (Kirkcaldy) |
| Denman, Hon. R. D. | Kirkpatrick, William M. | Russell, Alexander West (Tynemouth) |
| Denville, Alfred | Knight, Holford | Rutherford, Sir John Hugo (Liverp'l) |
| Despencer-Robertson, Major J. A. F. | Lamb, Sir Joseph Quinton | Salmon, Sir Isidore |
| Dickie, John P. | Law Sir Alfred | Samuel, Rt. Hon. Sir H. (Darwen) |
| Doran, Edward | Leckle, J. A. | Sanderson, Sir Frank Barnard |
| Duckworth, George A. V. | Leech, Dr. J. W. | Sandys, Duncan |
| Dugdale, Captain Thomas Lionel | Leigh, Sir John | Savery, Samuel Servington |
| Duggan, Hubert John | Lennox-Boyd, A. T. | Shakespeare, Geoffrey H. |
| Duncan, James A. L. (Kensington, N.) | Lewis, Oswald | Shaw, Helen B. (Lanark, Bothwell) |
| Dunglass, Lord | Lindsay, Kenneth (Kilmarnock) | Simon, Rt. Hon. Sir John |
| Ellis, Sir R. Geoffrey | Lindsay, Noel Ker | Smith, Bracewell (Dulwich) |
| Emmott, Charles E. G. C. | Lister, Rt. Hon. Sir Philip Cunliffe- | Smith, Louis W. (Sheffield, Hallam) |
| Emrys-Evans, P. V. | Llewellyn-Jones, Frederick | Somerville, Annestey A. (Windsor) |
| Entwistle, Cyril Fullard | Lloyd, Geoffrey | Somerville, D. G. (Willesden, East) |
| Sotheron-Estcourt, Captain T. E. | Thomas, Rt. Hon. J. H. (Derby) | Watt, Major George Steven H. |
| Spender-Clay, Rt. Hon. Herbert H. | Thomas, James P. L. (Hereford) | Wedderburn, Henry James Scrymgeour- |
| Stanley, Rt. Hon. Oliver (W'morland) | Thompson, Sir Luke | White, Henry Graham |
| Stevenson, James | Todd, Lt.-Col. A. J. K. (B'wick-on-T.) | Williams, Charles (Devon, Torquay) |
| Stewart, J. Henderson (Fife, E.) | Touche, Gordon Cosmo | Willoughby de Eresby, Lord |
| Stones, James | Tree, Ronaid | Wilson, Lt.-Col. Sir Arnold (Hertf'd) |
| Storey, Samuel | Tryon, Rt. Hon. George Clement | Wilson, Clyde T. (West Toxteth) |
| Stourton, Hon. John J. | Tufnell, Lieut.-Commander R. L. | Womersley, Sir Walter |
| Strickland, Captain W. F. | Wallace, Captain D. E. (Hornsey) | Worthington, Dr. John V. |
| Sueter, Rear-Admiral Sir Murray F. | Ward, Lt.-Col. Sir A. L. (Hull) | |
| Sutcliffe, Harold | Ward, Irene Mary Bewick (Wallsend) | TELLERS FOR THE AYES.— |
| Taylor, C. S. (Eastbourne) | Warrender, Sir Victor A. G. | Sir Frederick Thomson and Sir George Penny. |
| Taylor, Vice-Admiral E. A.(P'dd'gt'n,S.) | Waterhouse, Captain Charles. | |
| NOES. | ||
| Addison, Rt. Hon. Dr. Christopher | George, Megan A. Lloyd (Anglesea) | McEntee, Valentine L. |
| Attlee, Clement Richard | Grenfell, David Rees (Glamorgan) | Mainwaring, William Henry |
| Brown, C. W. E. (Notts., Mansfield) | Griffiths, George A. (Yorks, W. Riding) | Maxton, James |
| Buchanan, George | Grundy, Thomas W. | Owen, Major Goronwy |
| Cleary, J. J. | Hall, George H. (Merthyr Tydvil) | Parkinson, John Allen |
| Cocks, Frederick Seymour | Hicks, Ernest George | Smith, Tom (Normanton) |
| Cove, William G. | Jenkins, Sir William | Tinker, John Joseph |
| Cripps, Sir Stafford | John, William | West, F. R. |
| Daggar, George | Kirkwood, David | Williams, Edward John (Ogmore) |
| Davies, David L. (Pontypridd) | Lansbury, Rt. Hon. George | Wilmot, John |
| Davies, Stephen Owen | Lawson, John James | |
| Dobble, William | Leonard, William | TELLERS FOR THE NOES.— |
| Gardner, Benjamin Walter | Logan, David Gilbert | Mr. Paling and Mr. Groves. |
| George, Major G. Lloyd (Pembroke) | Macdonald, Gordon (Ince) |