HC Deb 28 April 1936 vol 311 cc738-9
Mr. ATTLEE

May I ask the Prime Minister whether he has any change to announce in the business for to-morrow?

The PRIME MINISTER

Mr. Speaker informed the House last Thursday that, on the Motion for going into Committee of Supply on the Civil Estimates, he intended to call the Amendment standing in the name of the hon. Member for Yardley (Mr. Salt), which relates to the lighting of highways. I understand that the Opposition have given notice to Mr. Speaker that, when the Amendment has been disposed of they desire, on the main Question, to debate the report a the Broadcasting Committee.

Mr. MAXTON

Could the Prime Minister indicate to me at what hour of the day it is likely to be possible to proceed to a discussion on the Broadcasting Report, and whether that will be the only opportunity that will be afforded to the House of discussing this important matter?

The PRIME MINISTER

That is a question to which it is quite beyond the power of the Leader of the House to give an answer. The Amendment always has to be taken first, but I do not know whether the discussion upon it will be a long one or not; it depends entirely on the House and on Mr. Speaker.

Mr. MAXTON

Then the importance of the latter part of my question becomes still more urgent. If it should be—and none of us can say now—that the Debate on the question of the lighting of highways, in which many Members of the House are keenly interested, runs until a late hour in the evening, is the discussion after that late hour the only opportunity that this House is going to have of dealing with the report of the Broadcasting Committee?

The PRIME MINISTER

No; I think that the hon. Member is in error there. Supposing that such a thing should happen, that subject could be debated on any appropriate Supply day. It could be debated on the Post Office Vote at any time. There are 17 or 18 Supply days due.