HC Deb 14 May 1936 vol 312 cc565-8
Mr. ATTLEE

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman the Home Secretary what is to be the business for next week?

Sir J. SIMON

On Monday—Second Reading of the Coal Mines Bill.

Tuesday—Committee stage of the Air Navigation [Money] Resolution and of the Tithe [Money] Resolution.

Wednesday—Second Reading of the Finance Bill.

Thursday—Supply; Committee (7th Allotted Day). The Debate will be on the Co-ordination of Defence.

Friday —The Government business to be taken on that day will be announced later.

On any day, if there is time, other Orders will be taken.

As regards the business for Tuesday, the Government hope to obtain the Committee stage of the Air Navigation [Money] Resolution by 7.30. This is not unreasonable. The House has already spent half a day on the Second Reading of the Air Navigation Bill, and, furthermore, the Bill has been committed to a Committee of the Whole House, which will give further opportunities of debate on the Floor of the House. The other half of Tuesday will be devoted to the Committee stage of the Tithe [Money] Resolution. One day, as the House is aware, has already been devoted to the Second Reading of the Tithe Bill.

Mr. ATTLEE

I should like to make it clear to the right hon. Gentleman that there has been no agreement with this side of the House with regard to the allocation of time on Tuesday. Will the Minister for the Co-ordination of Defence make a statement at the beginning of the Debate on Thursday, and give the Government's position on defence?

Sir J. SIMON

The right hon. Gentleman is quite right with regard to the business on Tuesday. We shall begin with the first Order, and see how it goes, but we hope to deal with both Orders. As regards the Debate on Supply on Thursday, I have not had an opportunity of communicating with my right hon. Friend on the question, but I believe that he will open the Debate.

Sir A. SINCLAIR

Can the right hon. Gentleman say upon what Vote the discussion will take place on Thursday?

Sir J. SIMON

Yes, Sir, the Vote is Class I, Vote 4. I am advised that that is the appropriate Vote.

Mr. LAMBERT

If the first item of business on the Order Paper on Tuesday is not finished by 7.30, will the Committee stage of the Tithe [Money] Resolution be taken, and will it not be rather inconvenient procedure to take such a very important Resolution at so late an hour?

Sir J. SIMON

We shall see how we get on. If the distribution of time is something like what I have indicated, that would seem to be fair enough, but the first Order will be the Committee stage of the Air Navigation [Money] Resolution, and we must really see how we get through that business.

Mr. MAXTON

There is no announcement in the business for next week about the Unemployment Assistance Board's Regulations coming forward. Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the Minister responsible for that Department gave a very definite promise to the House that these Regulations would be brought before us within a certain specified time. Since that time, he has passed over every reference to it with a jest, but there are something like 1,000,000 people in this country who are keenly interested in this matter, and it is time that the very indefinite position under which these people are living was brought to an end, and a definite announcement made that these Regulations are to be brought forward and discussed in this House.

Sir J. SIMON

I certainly cannot accept the suggestion of the hon. Gentleman that this matter has been treated as a jest.

Mr. MAXTON

I was referring to the Minister of Labour.

Sir J. SIMON

Oh, no; no one treats it as a jest. The hon. Gentleman will appreciate that this has nothing to do with the business for next week, but I have every reason to know that there must be some further announcement about it, and there may be an announcement to be made shortly.

Mr. LEWIS

Will the Home Secretary represent to the Leader of the House that the time suggested for the discussion of the Financial Resolution in connection with the Air Navigation Bill on Tuesday is likely to prove inadequate? I do not know whether the right hon. Gentleman is aware that on the occasion of the Second Reading of the Bill a number of questions were raised by supporters of the Government which were not answered or dealt with by the Government spokesman, in reply. Consequently, the proceedings are likely to be more protracted on the Financial Resolution.

Sir J. SIMON

The proper course at this stage is to announce what the Government think ought to be done, and I have stated that on Tuesday the Financial Resolution of the Air Navigation Bill will be the first Order. I do not see how my hon. Friend can object to that.

Sir A. SINCLAIR

Is it proposed to give only one day to the Second Reading of the Finance Bill?

Sir J. SIMON

I think it is intended to give one day.

Sir ARCHIBALD SINCLAIR

It is important to have two days.

Mr. PERKINS

Is it the intention of the Government to suspend the Eleven o'clock Rule on Tuesday?

Sir J. SIMON

That is a matter about which I cannot make a statement to-day.

Mr. GEORGE GRIFFITHS

Can we be assured that the regulations for the scales of the Unemployment Assistance Board will be placed in the Vote Office two or three days before we have to discuss them?

Mr. MAXTON

A week.

Sir J. SIMON

I think a promise has been given already, but that has nothing to do with the business for next week.