§ 3.41 p.m.
§ Mr. LANSBURYMay I ask the Prime Minister what business he proposes to take next week?
§ The PRIME MINISTEROn Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, the Government of India Bill.
On Friday, consideration of Motions to approve Additional Import Duties Orders Nos. 6, 7, 8 and 9; Report and Third Reading of the Northern Ireland Land Purchase (Winding-up) Bill.
On any day, if there is time, other Orders may be taken.
§ Mr. LANSBURYIn view of the importance of at least two of the Import Duties Orders which the right hon. Gentleman proposes that we should take on Friday, is it not possible to change the arrangement and to take them on Wednesday in order to give the House a breather in the prolonged discussions on India?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI am aware that there has not been complete agreement as to the order of this programme of business, but the inquiries that we made seemed to indicate that, as I have announced it, it will meet the convenience of the majority of Members. We are also unwilling to take more Fridays than absolutely necessary for the India Bill, and perhaps the House will agree to the procedure which I have announced.
§ Mr. LANSBURYObviously, the majority must, I suppose, have their way. The questions to be discussed, certainly the iron and steel duty, are of the utmost importance to the well-being of this country and ought to have a full day for their discussion. They are of equal importance with the India Bill. I very urgently ask the Prime Minister and the Patronage Secretary to reconsider the matter and to let us have a full day's discussion of these very important Orders. We think the convenience of us all should be studied, and I make that request to the right hon. Gentleman.
§ Mr. CHURCHILLMay I venture to ask the Prime Minister whether he will consider having only three days next week for the India Bill, dropping out Wednesday and consigning it to the purpose suggested by the Leader of the 539 Opposition? There was an understanding, to which the Prime Minister has made an indirect reference in his remarks, that there should not be too many Fridays included in the number of days allotted to the India Bill, Friday being virtually only a half-day. May I ask whether the right hon. Gentleman will consider taking only three days next week for the India Bill, as that will be very much more in accord with the general view?
§ The PRIME MINISTEROn account of the business that must follow the India Bill, we must go on with it on four days next week. I am very sorry that, because of the progress that is required to be made, we must have four days for the India Bill next week. My information is quite authoritative, but, if I could be persuaded that the majority would welcome the alteration, I should not want to impose anything upon the House that would not meet the wishes of the majority. My information at the moment is that the programme which I have announced, and in the order in which I have announced it, meets on this occasion the convenience of the House as a whole.
§ Mr. LANSBURYI am not questioning the fact that those concerned in discussing these matters—they may be a majority—have come to this conclusion. I only want to enter a very strong protest against matters such as this being put down for Friday. They are of such tremendous importance to the industrial welfare of this country that they ought to be discussed, not on what is always regarded as a sort of holiday, but on a day when we can make progress. I am not questioning whether the other Whips agreed or whether they did not; I am protesting, as a matter of public duty, against the arrangement.
§ Mr. CHURCHILLFurther to the question of business, may I ask the Prime Minister whether he is yet in a position to give any indication to the House that the House will be afforded facilities for discussing the general defence position, either on his salary or on some other Vote, in view of the fact that the basis on which the Government were proceeding in regard to air defence has been found to be not related to the actual facts?
§ The PRIME MINISTERNo, I am not in a position to make a statement on the subject. In any event, the time for business is completely mortgaged with absolutely necessary business, and I am not in a position to state now what is likely to be the course of business after Easter. Before the House adjourns I should be better able to say what is likely to take place.
§ Mr. CHURCHILLAm I right in inferring that, in the event of no day being found, it will be open to Members who are interested in this topic to raise it on the Adjournment for the Easter Recess?
§ The PRIME MINISTERThat is so. I am much obliged to the right hon. Gentleman for raising that point. Certainly, on the Adjournment for the Easter Recess, opportunity can be taken by Members who wish to do so.
§ Mr. MAXTONIn the arrangement for business next week, has the Prime Minister considered that the House may desire an opportunity of discussing the statement that will be made by the right hon. Gentleman the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, who, we are told, proposes to make a statement on Tuesday in reply to a question? If that is an important statement, there will probably be a very strong desire, and a proper desire, on the part of the House to discuss the statement. Have the Government taken that into account in the arrangement of business?
§ Mr. LANSBURYI understood that. the right hon. Gentleman the Foreign Secretary hoped to be able to make a statement on Monday and not on. Tuesday.
§ Sir J. SIMONThe answer I gave was that I should be glad if this question were put down for Tuesday, when I would do my best to give an answer.
§ Mr. MAXTONCan I have a reply from the Prime Minister to my question as to whether it has been contemplated that when we have that statement the House may very strongly desire to discuss it, and whether a day will be provided?
§ The PRIME MINISTERMy hope is that when the House has heard the statement it will not wish to carry it further at the moment.