§ Mr. ATTLEEMay I ask the Prime Minister three questions on business? Can he now state when the White Paper on Defence will be available to Members?
§ The PRIME MINISTERYes, Sir. The White Paper relating to Defence will be available to Members in the Vote Office during the afternoon of Wednesday next.
§ Mr. ATTLEEWhen is it proposed to have the discussion on Defence?
§ The PRIME MINISTEROn Monday and Tuesday of the week following.
§ Mr. ATTLEEDoes the Prime Minister think that it is reasonable that, the Government having taken months, Members of this House are to be given only two days, apart from a week-end, to consider this matter before it comes up for debate? It raises one of the biggest issues that we have had, and it is intolerable that we should not have more time.
§ The PRIME MINISTERI cannot understand the heat of the right hon. Gentleman. The Government and the House have been working at high pressure for a long time, and, as far as I am concerned, I am only too grateful if I have a week-end to devote wholly to the consideration of any one subject. We are doing our utmost to get the White Paper ready. If it can be got ready on Tuesday —if we go on as we are doing now—and the House is now working overtime to do it—Tuesday would be the very earliest date on which we could get it ready. The difficulty, as the right hon. Gentleman knows, is that the debate was promised to the House before the Service Estimates were introduced. The Service Estimates will be in the Vote Office next week and will be taken in rapid succession after this debate. As a matter of fact, even if this White Paper is issued on Wednesday, there will be Thursday, Friday and 658 Saturday, and also Sunday, if hon. Members have no objection to working on that day.
§ Mr. ATTLEEWill the Prime Minister realise that in a matter of this kind it is necessary for discussions to take place between Members and for opinions to be obtained, and that the week-end is extraordinarily difficult for that purpose. It is true that the House is working at high pressure, but is it not right that the House should be able to do its work properly? How can the House deal with a vital and important matter of policy like this in far less time than is given to an ordinary minor Government Bill?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI will do my best to get the White Paper out the day before, and thus give it an extra day, but I can see no other course open to us if we are to bring it on before the debates on the Estimates take place, and we have worked with the utmost speed to get this work finished in time, as we understood that it was the desire of the whole House.
§ Mr. ATTLEECan the Prime Minister say what business it is proposed to take next week; and, secondly, how far he proposes to go to-night?
§ The PRIME MINISTERYes, Sir. The business for next week is as follows:
Monday: Discussion of the Opposition Vote of Censure with regard to Special Areas; Report stage of outstanding Supplementary Estimates; and Third Reading of the Milk (Extensions of Temporary Provisions) Bill.
Tuesday: First Allotted Day: Civil and Revenue Departments Vote on Account, Committee stage. A Debate on Unemployment will take place. Third Reading of the British Shipping (Continuance of Subsidy) Bill.
Wednesday: Private Members' Motions.
Thursday: Second Allotted Day: Civil and Revenue Departments Vote on Account, Report stage.
Friday: Private Members' Bills.
It is hoped to make further progress during the week with the Unemployment (Northern Ireland Agreement) Bill, the Pensions (Governors of Dominions, etc.) Bill, and the Consolidated Fund Bill.
On any day other Orders may be taken as time permits.
We hope to-day to obtain the first five Orders.
§ Mr. ATTLEEAre we to understand that on Tuesday the Government are putting down the Motion for the Third Reading of the British Shipping Subsidy Bill at the very end of the day, and does not the Third Reading stage become a farce when taken at a late hour The Third Reading is a very important stage, and the House should have a full opportunity for discussion, particularly on the British Shipping Subsidy Bill, on which a very important issue is to be raised. It is really becoming extraordinarily difficult for the House to do its business if we are to have the Third Reading of such important Bills taken at a very late hour.
§ The PRIME MINISTERI have sympathy with what the right hon. Gentleman has said, and I have no desire or intention to make that a general practice. But I must remind the House once more, that at this particular period of the year, we are always up against fixed dates for the transaction of financial business, and I would repeat that we have not as yet attempted to take any Private Members' time. In the course of the next 10 days we have, in addition to Private Members' time, to debate the Opposition Vote of Censure and to provide two days for the Defence Debate. The time is therefore considerably restricted. I have no desire and no intention, more than is absolutely necessary at this time of the year, of following that procedure.
§ Mr. ATTLEEIs it not now clear to the Prime Minister that he should have accepted the suggestion made from these benches and have arranged for the House to assemble earlier?
| Division No. 65.] | AYES. | [4.2 p.m. |
| Agnew, Lieut. -Comdr. p G. | Bracken, B. | Clarke, F. E. |
| Albery, I. J. | Briscoe, Capt. R. G. | Clarry, Sir R. G. |
| Allen, Lt. Col. J. Sandeman (B'kn'hd') | Brocklebank, C. E. R. | Collins, Rt. Hon. Sir G. P. |
| Allen, Lt.-Col. Sir W. J. (Armagh) | Brown, Rt. Hon. E. (Leith) | Colville, L t. Col. D. J. |
| Amery, Rt. Hon. L. C. M. S. | Brown, Brig.-Gen. H. C. (Newbury) | Cook, T.R. A. M. (Norfolk, N.) |
| Anderson, Sir A. Garrett (C. of Ldn.) | Bull, B. B. | Cooke, J. D. (Hammersmith, S.) |
| Anstruther Gray, W. J. | Burgley, Lord | Cooper, Rt. Hn. A. Duff(W'st'r S.G'gs) |
| Apsley, Lord | Burgin, Dr. E. L. | Cooper, Rt. Hn. T. M. (E'nburgh.W.) |
| Aske, Sir R. W. | Burton, Col. H. W. | Courthope, Col. Sir G. L. |
| Assheton, R. | Caine, G. R. Hall- | Craddock, Sir R. H. |
| Atholl, Duchess of | Campbell, Sir E. T. | Crooke, J. S. |
| Baldwin, Rt. Hon. Stanley | Cartland, J. R. H. | Crookshank, Capt. H. F. C. |
| Balfour, Capt. H. H.(isle of Thanet) | Carver, Major W. H. | Cross, R. H. |
| Barclay-Harvey, C. M. | Gary, R. A. | Crossley, A. C. |
| Baxter, A. Beverley | Cautley, Sir H. S. | Culverwell, C. T. |
| Belt, Sir A. L. | Cayzer, sir C. W. (City of Chester) | Davidson, Rt. Hon. Sir J. C. C. |
| Bernays, R. H. | Cazalet, Thelma (Islington, E.) | Davies, Major G. F. (Yeovil) |
| Blair, Sir R. | Cazalet, Capt. V. A. (Chippenham) | Dawson, Sir P. |
| Blindell, Sir J. | Chamberlain, Rt. Hn. Sir A. (Br.W.) | De la Bère, R. |
| Borodale, Viscount | Chamberlain, Rt. Hn. N. (Edgb 't'n) | Denman, Hon. R. D. |
| Bossom, A. C. | Channon, H. | Denville, Alfred |
| Boulton, W. W. | Chapman, A. (Rutherglen) | Despencer Robertson, Major J. A. F. |
| Bower, Comdr. R. T. | Chapman, Sir S. (Edinburgh, S.) | Dodd, J. S. |
§ Mr. TINKERWill the Prime Minister arrange for an earlier time for discussion of the Pensions (Governors of Dominions, etc.) Bill? It has previously been discussed after 11 o'clock at night, and we think we ought to have it a bit earlier next time.
Miss RATHBONEWhen will there be an opportunity of discussing the report of the Statutory Committee on Unemployment Insurance which was announced by the Minister of Labour to-day?
§ The PRIME MINISTERThe Order is not on the Paper yet.
§ Mr. TINKERWill the right hon. Gentleman reply about the Pensions Bill to which I have referred?
§ Mr. BATEYWhen is it intended to bring on the Pensions (Governors of Dominions, etc.) Bill? We want to know.
§ The PRIME MINISTERPerhaps the hon. Gentleman did not catch what I said earlier. I said that during the week we hoped to make further progress with that Bill. It is not put down for any particular time, and everything depends on what progress we make with business.
§ Mr. TINKERThe Chief Whip of the Government slipped it in after 11 o'clock last time.
§
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 divided: Ayes, 245; Noes, 127.
| Donner, P. W. | Kerr, J. Graham (Scottish Univs.) | Ross Taylor, W. (Woodbridge) |
| Duckworth, G. A. V. (Salop) | Keyes, Admiral of the Fleet Sir R. | Rowlands, G. |
| Duckworth, W. R. (Moss Side) | Kimball, L. | Ruggles-Brise, Colonel Sir E. A. |
| Dugdale, Major T. L. | Kirkpatrlck, W. M. | Russell, R. J. (Eddisbury) |
| Duggan, H. J. | Knox, Major-General Sir A. W. F. | Salmon, Sir I. |
| Duncan, J. A. L. | Latham, Sir P. | Salt, E. W. |
| Dunglass, Lord | Law, R. K. (Hull, S.W.) | Samuel, Sir A, M. (Farnham) |
| Dunne, P. R. R. | Leckle, J. A. | Samuel, M, R. A. (Putney) |
| Eckersley, P. T. | Leech, Dr. J. W. | Sandys, E. D. |
| Elliot, Rt. Hon. W. E. | Levy, T. | Sassoon, Rt. Hon. Sir P. |
| Ellis, Sir G. | Lewis, O. | Savery, Servington |
| Emmott, C. E. G. C. | Lindsay, K. M. | Scott, Lord William |
| Emrys- Evans, P. V. | Llewellin, Lleut.-Col. J. J. | Shakespeare, G. H. |
| Errlngton, E. | Lloyd, G. W. | Shepperson, Sir E. W. |
| Erskine Hill, A. G. | Locker- Lampson, Comdr, O. S. | Sinclair, Col. T. (Queen's U. B'it'st), |
| Evans, Capt. A. (Cardiff, S.) | Loder, Captain Hon. J. de V. | Smiles, Lleut.-Colonel Sir W. D. |
| Everard, W. L. | Mabane, W. (Huddersfield) | Smith, L. W. (Hallam) |
| Flides, Sir H. | MacAndrew, Lt.-Col. Sir C. G. | Smith, Sir R. W. (Aberdeen) |
| Findlay, Sir E. | M'Connell, Sir J. | Somerset, T. |
| Fleming, E. L. | McKie, J. H. | Somervell, Sir D. B. (Crewe) |
| Fremantle, Sir F. E. | Maclay, Hon. J. P. | Southby, Comdr. A. R. J. |
| Fyfe, D. P. M. | Macnamara, Capt. J. R. J, | Spender-Clay, Lt.-CI. Rt. Hn. H. H, |
| Ganzoni, Sir J. | Magnay, T. | Stanley, Rt. Hon. Lord (Fylde) |
| Gilmour, Lt.-Col. Rt. Hon Sir J. | Maitland, A. | Stanley, Rt. Hon. Oliver (W'm'l'd) |
| Giuckstein, L. H. | Makins, Brig.-Gen. E. | Stewart, William J. (Belfast, S.) |
| Goldie, N. B. | Manningham-Buller, Sir M. | Storey, S. |
| Goodman, Col, A, W. | Margesson, Capt. Rt. Hon. H. D. R. | Strauss, H. G. (Norwich) |
| Granville, E. L. | Mason, Lt.-Col. Hon. G. K. M. | Strickland, Captain W. F. |
| Greene, W. P. C. (Worcester) | Maxwell, S. A. | Stuart, Lord C. Crichton- (N'thw'h) |
| Gretton, Col. Rt. Hon. J. | May hew, Lt.-Col. J. | Stuart, Hon. J. (Moray and Nairn) |
| Gridley, Sir A. B. | Mills, Major J. D. (New Forest) | Sueter, Rear-Admiral Sir M. F. |
| Grigg, Sir E. W. M. | Mitchell, H. (Brentford and Chiswick) | Sutcliffe, H. |
| Grirmston, R. V. | Moore-Brabazon, Lt.-Col, J. T. C. | Tasker, Sir R. I. |
| Gunston, Capt. D. W. | Moreing, A. C. | Tate, Mavis C. |
| Guy, J. C. M. | Morrison, G. A. (Scottish Univ's.) | Taylor, Vice-Adm. E. A. (Padd., S.) |
| Hacking, Rt. Hon. D. H. | Morrison, W. S. (Clrencester) | Thomas, Rt. Hon. J. H. (Derby) |
| Hamilton, Sir G. C. | Muirhead, Lt.-Col. A. J. | Thomas, J. P. L. (Hereford) |
| Hanbury, Sir C. | Munro, P. M. | Thomson, Sir J. D. W. |
| Hannah, I. C. | Nicolson, Hon. H. G. | Touche, G. C. |
| Hannon, Sir P. J. H. | O'Neill; Major Rt. Hon. Sir Hugh | Tree, A. R. L. F. |
| Harvey, G. | Ormsby-Gore, Rt. Hon. W. G. | Tryon, Major Rt. Hon. G. C. |
| Heilgers, Captain F. F. A. | Orr-Ewing, I. L. | Tufnell, Lieut.-Com. R. L. |
| Heneage, Lieut. -Colonel A. P. | Peat, C. U. | Turton, R. H. |
| Hepburn, P, G. T. Buchan- | Peters, Dr. S. J. | Wakefield, W. W. |
| Herbert, A. P. (Oxford U.) | Petherick. M. | Wallace, Captain Euan |
| Herbert, Major J. A. (Monmouth) | Pilkington, R. | Ward, Irene (Wallsend) |
| Hills, Major Rt. Hon. J. W. (Ripon) | Plugge, L. F. | Warrender, Sir V. |
| Holmes, J. S. | Ponsonby, Col. C. E. | Waterhouse, Captain C. |
| Hope, Captain Hon. A. O. J. | Porritt, R. W. | Wedderburn, H. J. S. |
| Hopkinson, A. | Pownall, Sir A. Assheton | Wickham, Lt.-Col. E. T. R. |
| Hore Bellsha, Rt. Hon. L. | Procter, Major H. A. | Williams, H. G. (Croydon, S.) |
| Horsbrugh, Florence | Purbrick, R. | Wilson, Lt.-Col. Sir A. T. (Hitchin) |
| Howitt, Dr. A. B. | Rankin, R. | Wise, A. R. |
| Hudson, R. S. (Southport) | Rathbone, Eleanor (English Univ's.) | Womersley, Sir W. J. |
| Hulbert, N. J. | Rayner, Major R. H. | Wood, Rt. Hon. Sir Kingsley |
| Hunter, T. | Reed, A. C. (Exeter) | Young, A. S. L. (Partick) |
| Kurd, Sir P. A. | Reid, Sir D. D. (Down) | |
| Jackson, Sir H. | Rickards, G. W. (Skipton) | TELLERS FOR THE AYES.— |
| Jarvis, Sir. J. J. | Robinson, J. R. (Blackpool) | Sir George Penny and Lieut. - |
| Keeling, E. H. | Ropner, Colonel L. | Colonel Sir A. Lambert Ward. |
| NOES. | ||
| Adams, D. (Consett) | Davies, D. L. (Pontypridd) | Hall, J. H. (Whitechapel) |
| Adamson, W. M. | Davies, R. J. (Westhoughton) | Hardie, G. D. |
| Amman, C. G. | Davies, S. O. (Merthyr) | Harris, Sir P. A. |
| Anderson, F. (Whitehaven) | Day, H. | Henderson, A. (Kingswinford) |
| Attlee, Rt. Hon. C. R. | Dabble, W. | Henderson, T. (Tradeston) |
| Banfield, J. W. | Dunn, E. (Rather Valley) | Hicks, E. G. |
| Barnes, A. J. | Ede, J. C. | Holland, A. |
| Batey, J. | Edwards, Sir C. (Bedwellty) | Hollins, A. |
| Beilenger, F. | Evans, D. O. (Cardigan) | Hopkin, D. |
| Benson, G. | Evans, E. (Univ. of Wales) | Jenkins, A. (Pontypool) |
| Broad, F. A. | Fletcher, Lt.-Comdr. R. T. H. | John, W. |
| Brooke, W. | Foot, D. M. | Johnston, Rt. Hon. T. |
| Brown, C. (Mansfield) | Frankel, D. | Jones, A. C. (Shipley) |
| Chater, D. | Gallacher, W. | Jones, Morgan (Caerphilly) |
| Cluse, W. S. | Gardner, B. W. | Kelly, W. T. |
| Clynes, Rt. Hon. J. R. | Gibbins, J. | Kennedy, Rt. Hon. T. |
| Cocks, F. S. | Green, W. H. (Deptford) | Kirkwood, D. |
| Compton, J. | Greenwood, Rt. Hon, A. | Lansbury, Rt. Hon. G. |
| Cripps, Hon. Sir Stafford | Grenfell, D. R. | Lawson, J. J. |
| Daggar, G. | Griffiths, G. A. (Hemsworth) | Leach, W. |
| Dalton, H. | Groves, T. E. | Lee, F. |
| Davidson, J. J. (Maryhill) | Hall, G. H. (Aberdare) | Leonard, W. |
| Leslie, J. R. | Pethick- Lawrence, F. W. | Smith, Rt. Hon. H. B. Lees- (K'ly) |
| Logan, D. G. | Potts, J. | Smith, T. (Normanton) |
| Lunn, W. | Pritt, D. N. | Stewart, W. J. (H'ght'n-le-Sp'ng) |
| Macdonald, G. (Ince) | Quibell, J. D. | Strauss, G. R. (Lambeth, N.) |
| McEntee, V. La T. | Richards, R. (Wrexham) | Taylor, R. J. (Morpeth) |
| McGovern, J. | Riley, B. | Thome, W. |
| Maclean, N. | Rltson, J. | Thurtie, E. |
| MacMillan, M. (Western Isles) | Roberts, W. (Cumberland-, N.) | Tinker, J. J. |
| MacNeill, Weir, L. | Robinson, W. A. (St. Helens) | Vlant, S. P. |
| Mainwaring, W. H. | Rothschild, J. A. de | Walkden, A. G. |
| Mander, G. le M. | Rowson, G, | Walker, J. |
| Marklew, E. | Salter, Dr. A. | Watkins. F. C. |
| Mathers, G. | Seely. Sir H. M. | Westwood, J. |
| Maxtor, J. | Sexton, T. M. | Wilkinson, Ellen |
| Messer, F. | Shinwell, E. | Williams, E. J. (Ogmore) |
| Milner, Major J. | Short, A. | Williams, T. (Don Valley) |
| Montague, F. | Silverman, S. S. | Wilson, C. H. (Attercllffe) |
| Morrison, Rt. Hon. H. (Ha'kn'y, S.) | Simpson, F. B. | Woods, G. S. (Finsbury) |
| Morrison, R. C. (Tottenham, N.) | Sinclair, Rt. Hon. Sir A. (C'thn's) | Young, Sir R. (Newton) |
| Paling, W. | Smith, Ben (Rotherhithe) | |
| Parker, H. J. H. | Smith, E. (Stoke) | TELLERS FOR THE NOES.— |
| Mr. Whiteley and Mr. Charleton. |