§ Mr. ATTLEEMay I ask the Prime Minister the business for next week?
§ The PRIME MINISTERIt may be for the convenience of the House if I inform hon. Members that the Chairman of Ways and Means is postponing until next week the consideration of the Private Bill set down for 7.30 to-night. The Debate arranged for to-day will, therefore, occupy the whole of the sitting. Next week's business will be:
Monday: Committee stage of the Air Navigation Bill; Report stage of the Tithe Money Resolution.
Tuesday, and until 7.30 on Wednesday: Report and Third Reading of the Education Bill. It is understood that the Chairman of Ways and Means intends to put down a Private Bill for consideration at 7.30 on Wednesday.
Thursday: Report stage of the Navy Supplementary Estimate, which it is hoped to obtain by 7.30. Afterwards, we shall make further progress with the Air Navigation Bill.
Friday: Motion for the Whitsuntide Recess until Tuesday, 9th June.
On any day, if there is time, other Orders will be taken, including consideration of the Lords Amendments to the Cotton Spinning Industry Bill.
§ Sir ARCHIBALD SINCLAIRCan the right hon. Gentleman say when we are to have the Unemployment Insurance 1379 Regulations, and how the Government propose to implement their undertaking that those Regulations would be brought before the House this Spring?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI have not that information.
§ Mr. MANDERIs the Prime Minister not aware that 24th June is Midsummer Day?
§ Mr. THURTLECan the right hon. Gentleman say whether the postponement of the consideration of the private Bill this evening has any connection with an important private function which is taking place in the House to-night?
§ The PRIME MINISTERNone at all.
§ Mr. BUCHANANIs the Prime Minister aware that we were promised these Unemployment Regulations by the Spring, and that we cannot now get them before the Whitsuntide Recess, which carries us well into June? For the sake of the dignity of Parliament is it not really the concern of the Prime Minister as to when we are to get what is, perhaps, the most important piece of domestic work?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI am extremely sorry that I cannot say when they will be introduced, but I cannot keep all these matters in my head.
§ Mr. BUCHANANBut this is a most important piece of domestic work, and may I ask the Prime Minister to make a statement about it himself one day? We have been put off day by day and week by week until it has become a positive scandal. Could not the Prime Minister make a personal statement on the actual position within a day or two?
§ Mr. ATTLEEIs the Prime Minister aware that the Lord President of the Council, when he was Prime Minister more than a year ago, told us that good progress was being made with the new Regulations? We have been asking for them ever since at regular intervals, and we are constantly put off. How long is that to go on in connection with a matter of vital importance?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI have told the House quite frankly that I do not know. Perhaps the right hon. Gentleman will put down a question.
§ Mr. SHINWELLIf the right hon. Gentleman cannot say when the Regulations are to be introduced, can we have the information from the Minister of Labour?
§ Mr. BUCHANANApart from a question being put down could not the Prime Minister undertake, in view of the importance of the matter, to make a statement on it between now and the Recess?
§ The PRIME MINISTERIf the hon. Member will put a question on the Paper I will do my best to answer it.
§ Mr. COCKSWill the Prime Minister say whether there is anything wrong with the Minister of Labour?
Ordered,
That this day, notwithstanding anything in Standing Order No. 14, a Supplementary Estimate for a New Service may be considered in Committee of Supply."—[The Prime Minister.]