§ Mr. CHURCHILLMay I ask your guidance, Mr. Speaker, for the convenience of the House, as to the scope of the Debate which I understand is to take place on Thursday on the Vote for the Foreign Office? It is evident that the disarmament question, and, consequently, the question of armaments, not in its technical details but in its general aspect, is inseparable from a consideration of the present foreign situation, 36 and I would ask, therefore, whether in their general terms the armament issues connected with the recent air armaments and submarine armaments of Germany can be referred to, and to what extent; and may I also ask if the Government have any views upon the subject? Then we are to have, I understand, a second Debate, as soon as it can be conveniently arranged, largely through the good offices of the Leader of the Opposition, upon the more technical issues connected with national defence, and, in particular, with air defence. May I ask whether the Government will have any statement to make upon these matters—I address myself now to the Prime Minister—either before the Debate on Thursday or before the second Debate; and when the Government anticipate that the second Debate will take place?
§ Mr. SPEAKERAs regards the first part of the right hon. Gentleman's question I am afraid I cannot give him any assistance, because, as I think he realises, the Debate on Thursday will take place in Committee of Supply, on a Supply day, and, therefore, it will be out of my hands entirely. The right hon. Gentleman should address that question to the Chairman of the Committee when he takes the Chair on Thursday. As regards the second part of the question, I gather that it was chiefly addressed to the Leader of the House.
§ Mr. CHURCHILLYes.
§ Mr. SPEAKERI do not know on what occasion it is proposed that the second Debate should take place—whether it will be on a Supply day or not. I have not been informed. If I were informed that it was not to be on a Supply day, but on a day when I was in the Chair, I might perhaps assist the right hon. Gentleman.
§ Mr. LANSBURYI do not know whether the right hon. Gentleman was here at the time, but our idea was that the second Debate should take place on a Supply day, the Vote for the right hon. Gentleman's salary being put down for that day in order that the whole question might be discussed. I do not know when the next Supply day will be.
§ The PRIME MINISTERI agree with the Leader of the Opposition that the second Debate will be, as promised, upon 37 a Supply day. I am not in a position now to say when that day can be provided, but it will be provided within a reasonable time, and it will be announced in the usual way.
§ Mr. ANEURIN BEVANMay I ask the Prime Minister whether, in view of the fact that these full-dress debates on foreign affairs are almost entirely monopolised by Privy Councillors, some further opportunity ought not to be given to back-benchers, who are kept out of these debates and have no opportunity of taking part in them? I speak merely as a back-bencher. We have had most inadequate opportunities.
§ Mr. CHURCHILLMay I ask the Prime Minister whether, in view of the grave urgency of this question, he will not endeavour to accelerate the second Debate? Almost every day is counting now. Will the right hon. Gentleman endeavour to secure it at any rate before the middle of next month?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI can assure the right hon. Gentleman that the Government have no desire unduly to delay the matter. The business of the House is constantly under review. The announcement will be made in the usual way, and it will be made as soon as it is possible to make it.
§ Mr. A. BEVANCould we have an expression of opinion on the question to which I have referred? I am quite sure that private Members in all parts of the House feel strongly about it?
§ Mr. H. WILLIAMSIs it not the case that private Members had three hours on the day on which the House adjourned for the Recess, and did not use them?
§ Sir A. CHAMBERLAINMay I ask my right hon. Friend the Leader of the House what course he anticipates that the debate next Thursday will take? Will it be opened by the Prime Minister himself, or by a statement by the right hon. Gentleman the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs; and will it deal in broad general terms with all the questions arising out of the meetings at Stresa and Geneva, including the broad issue of armaments, though not its technical details?
§ The PRIME MINISTERThe course which the debate will follow is only very partially under the control of the Government. If my right hon. Friend will repeat 38 his question after we have had time for consultation, I shall be able to tell him what part the Government propose to take in the debate. At the present time it is impossible to say.
§ Mr. LANSBURYWe, certainly, have taken it for granted that the debate will be opened by a statement from the Government, and I would like to say that, so far as we are concerned, we hope that the debate will be as broad as possible, and will cover everything that is of real importance in connection with foreign affairs and disarmament?
§ Sir A. CHAMBERLAINBefore my right hon. Friend replies, may I remind him of the promise which I think he made to the House that a statement would be made on behalf of the Government?
§ Captain P. MACDONALDIn view of the fact that nearly every debate on Imperial Defence, or defence of any kind, is monopolised by the question of foreign policy, surely we can have an opportunity of discussing defence on these occasions?
§ The PRIME MINISTERThe day provided on Thursday will be a Supply day, for the purpose of debating foreign policy in any way that the Committee may choose. The fact of the matter is that I desired to consult my right hon. Friend as to what the convenience of the Committee would be likely to be before announcing what the Government would do; but, as he has made the request that the debate should be opened by the Government, that request will certainly be complied with.