GOVERNMENT OF INDIA BILL. (Hansard, 12 March 1935)

§ The CHAIRMAN
I would like to make a brief observation or two to the Committee as to the arrangements under which we are working. It will be remembered that I was appointed Chairman of the Committee responsible for the allocation of time. That Committee remains in being, and I hope will meet again on Thursday, but I was unable to arrange a meeting before to-day's sitting as I wished to do, and therefore I consulted one or two Members of the Committee, and I thought it might be useful to give this Committee an idea of how we stand. This is the 8th allotted day, and therefore at the end of the sitting we shall have used up two more days than those which were allocated to the end of Clause 45. If I may say so, I do not think that there is any great harm in that, or any great danger to the arrangement. I think the spirit and idea of the arrangement has been loyally carried out in all quarters. The position, of course, is that at present we have used two of the spare days.
I have gone very carefully into this Bill and all the Amendments on the Paper, and it is quite clear that we shall want considerable discussion on certain parts of the Bill later on, but I hope it will be possible to save one day, perhaps, on some other part of the Bill.
The position, therefore, looks rather as if we had just about time, but none too much to spare, and I have discussed particularly with the Whips of the Opposition and of hon. Members below the Gangway on the Opposition side the position of the Amendment Paper with regard to to-day, and I am glad to say that I think that they agree with me that it is not unreasonable to hope, perhaps at some time between 11 o'clock and midnight to-day, to get to the end of Clause 45. There will be, I know, some discussion on Clause 18 which we are now on. Although there are a good many Amendments to be called on following Clauses, most of them should not take very long 224 to discuss, except on Clause 30, which raises a question of financial procedure, and possibly Clauses 38 and 40. Therefore, I venture, if I may, to appeal to hon. Members to try to carry on the arrangement in the same way as they have done, and save as much time as possible over the shorter Amendments, so that we may discuss the more important Clauses and finish Clause 45 to-night.

§ Mr. CHURCHILL
In respect of the guidance you have been good enough to give us, might I venture, first of all, to say that I think it is over-sanguine to expect that we should conclude Clause 45 this evening? There are several Clauses of considerable importance and many of great interest, and I should have thought that to-morrow we should be certain to be clear of this most important Chapter of the federal part of the Bill; but, naturally, we must do the best we can in view of what you have said. I had been thinking that it would be necessary for us to-day to ask for a more general statement from the Government as to our position on this Bill, either on a Motion to report Progress or on a Motion to recommit the Bill in consequence of the very great uncertainty which exists as to the permanency of all the work we are now doing, but I feel that in view of this friendly arrangement which we all wish to see a success, and a precedent for future House of Commons procedure, it would be better to accomplish Clause 45 and finish this part.
I gather from an answer which my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for India gave, or which was given on his behalf, that he will to-morrow be in a position to make some statement as to laying Papers before the House in regard to the later developments of the negotiations with the Indian Princes. If that were so, and we could accomplish Clause 45 satisfactorily this week, and perhaps get some little way beyond it, it would appear most desirable that we should have a general review of the position on the first day this Bill is taken next week, because otherwise we are discussing the Bill upon a basis which seems to be very ill-related to realities. May I add how glad we are to see the Secretary of State back and recovered in his health? I earnestly hope that if we are to sit up till 12 o'clock to-night, he will not feel that his presence is necessary. 225 I am sure that we shall not make less progress if he finds it necessary to withdraw.

§ Mr. ATTLEE
We are glad to see the Secretary of State again in his place. I should like to say that we want to carry out the friendly arrangement that has been made. While we have some very important Amendments to-day, and do not under-estimate the importance of this section, we must enter a caveat, because there are very important sections, Schedules and so forth coming later on which we have to raise some matters quite as important which concern the people of India as well as the Princes. I enter that caveat now.

§ The CHAIRMAN
Perhaps the right hon. Gentleman regards me as an optimist, but I know that I shall have his good will to support my optimisim.