46. Mr. DAVID ADAMSasked the Prime Minister whether he will make such arrangements in future as will avoid the necessity of submitting to the House at a late hour, as on the 8th instant, recommendations of the Import Duties Advisory Committee involving important fiscal and taxation changes?
§ The PRIME MINISTERThe Government arrange, so far as possible, to take Motions to approve Import Duties and similar Orders at a time most convenient to the House. It is, however, inevitable for a certain amount of business to be taken after Eleven o'Clock and especially at this period of the Session. The hon. Member is, of course, aware that these particular Motions are not subject to the Eleven o'Clock Rule.
Mr. ADAMSWill the right hon. Gentleman note that I have had the pleasure of making representations to him on the subject?
§ Mr. ATTLEEMay I ask the Leader of the House what business it is proposed to take to-night in the event of the Motion standing in the name of the Prime Minister to suspend the Eleven o'Clock Rule being carried?
§ The SECRETARY of STATE for the HOME DEPARTMENT (Sir John Simon)We are asking the House to suspend the Eleven o'Clock Rule in order to obtain the Committee stage of the Cattle Industry (Emergency Provisions) [Money] Resolution, and the Committee and remaining stages of the Malta (Letters Patent) Bill. Afterwards we shall consider the Government of India Act and the Government of Burma Act 1675 Orders in Council, which are exempted business. There is on the Paper a number of small Orders which we are hoping to obtain if there is time, but I do not think any of them are in any way contentious. The Orders referred to are numbers 2 to 6—Firearms (Amendment) Bill [Lords], Post Office (Sites) (re-committed) Bill [Lords], Old Age Pensions Bill [Lords], National Health Insurance Bill [Lords], Widows', Orphans' and Old Age Contributory Pensions Bill [Lords].
§ Mr. GARRO JONESIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that the so-called non-contentious Orders give rise to the whole question of the Sea Fish Commission's report, that they are associated with the
§ Sea Fish Commission's report under the Statute by which they are made, and that that question will be raised if those Orders are attempted to be taken after Eleven o'Clock. In these circumstances will he assure us that they will not be taken at such a late hour?
§ Sir J. SIMONI do not think I quite understand that question. Perhaps the hon. Member will speak to me privately about it.
§
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)."—[Sir J. Simon.]
§ The House divided: Ayes, 235; Noes, 96.