§ Mr. ATTLEEMay I ask the Prime Minister whether he will state the business of the House for the week that Parliament re-assembles after the Whitsuntide Recess?
§ The PRIME MINISTERTuesday, 9th June, and until 7.30 p.m. on Wednesday, 10th June, Committee stage of the Finance Bill.
After 7.30 p.m. on Wednesday, further progress will be made with the Air Navigation Bill, the Pensions (Governors of Dominions, etc.) Bill, and the Weights and Measures Bill.
Thursday, 11th June.—Supply; Committee (8th Allotted Day).
Friday, 12th June.—Consideration of draft Government of India and Burma Orders-in-Council relating to the Commencement and Transitory Provisions and Distribution of Revenues, and, if there is time, of draft Orders dealing with Electoral Corrupt Practices.
On any day, if there is time, other business may be taken.
§ Mr. ATTLEEDoes the Prime Minister consider it desirable to have a Debate on the report of the Tribunal Inquiry, and, if so, should it not be taken as early as possible?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI told the House that if the House desired, as seems to be the case, that there should be a discussion, we should certainly see that such a discussion took place. We are considering that, and perhaps the right hon. Gentleman will keep in touch with us through the usual channels.
§ Mr. ATTLEEWill the Prime Minister state for what purpose he is asking for the Eleven o'Clock Rule to be suspended to-night, and also say whether he has any statement to make with regard to the Coal Mines Bill?
§ The PRIME MINISTERYes, Sir, and perhaps I may read the statement on the Coal Mines Bill first:
It will be for the convenience of the House if I make a statement as to the Government's intentions in regard to the Coal Mines Bill. The Government hold by the principles of the Bill, which form an integral part of the measures designed to improve the condition of the coal industry; they have, however, decided that it must be postponed until the autumn. When the House reassembles after Whitsuntide there will only be about eight Parliamentary weeks before the beginning of August. There is still a great deal of essential Government business to be got through before the Recess and from a careful examination of the time-table, it is clear that sufficient time is not now available to pass the Bill through all its stages in this House in time to allow reasonable discussion of the Measure in another place.
The Government will make use of the interval to redraft the Bill and this will make it unnecessary to present a White Paper as the new Bill will include the changes announced by the President of the Board of Trade when moving the Second Reading on Monday, 18th May.
The Government will ask the House to proceed with the new Bill after the Summer Recess.
§ Mr. ATTLEECan the Prime Minister elucidate the first part of the statement 2203 when he said "The Government hold by the principles of the Bill"? Does he mean the principles of the Bill as printed, or the principles of the Bill after it had been dealt with by the President of the Board of Trade?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI do not think that the principle of the Bill has been changed at all.
§ Mr. H. MORRISONDoes the Prime Minister appreciate that the country will regard the whole of this episode as a complete and undignified surrender to the capitalist interests involved?
§ Sir FRANCIS ACLANDIn regard to the business for the week after next, does the Prime Minister expect to complete the Committee stage of the Finance Bill on the Tuesday and half of Wednesday, or only to make progress with it?
§ The PRIME MINISTEROf course, it is merely to make progress.
§ Mr. SHINWELLIn regard to the Coal Mines Bill, may I ask the Prime Minister what is proposed in connection with the further activities of the Coal Mines Reorganisation Commission? If the Bill is not to be introduced until the autumn, are we to understand that the commission is to be disbanded?
§ The PRIME MINISTERNo, Sir. That is a very proper question to ask. The matter will receive consideration. The commission is a statutory body, with functions under the Act of 1930 with regard to voluntary amalgamations, and that continues.
§ Mr. SHINWELLBut if, as was stated by the President of the Board of Trade in the Coal Mines Bill Debate, voluntary amalgamations cannot be achieved under the present activities of the commission, what purpose is there in maintaining that body?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI do not think that we take quite that view. We think that a great deal may be done by voluntary amalgamations.
§ Mr. H. G. WILLIAMSWhile the Cabinet are considering the new Coal Mines Bill, will they also take into account necessary amendments of Part I of the Coal Mines Act, 1930, so that there 2204 may be appropriate protection of consumers under the coal selling schemes?
§ Mr. J. GRIFFITHSSince the Coal Mines Bill has been withdrawn, after consultation with the coal-owners, do the Government intend before the new Bill is brought in, to consult the men affected?
§ The PRIME MINISTERNo doubt my hon. Friend an.1 all who are concerned with the production of the Bill will make every consultation that they think requisite.
§ Mr. H. G. WILLIAMSWill the Prime Minister be good enough to reply to my question?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI assume that all these points will be reviewed.
§ Mr. TINKERIn regard to the business for 10th June, it is proposed to take the Finance Bill up to 7.30 p.m. and afterwards to take another Order, and later the Pensions (Governors of Dominions, etc.) Bill. There has been a great deal of trouble over the latter Bill, and we do not want it to come on for discussion after 11 o'clock, otherwise there will be further trouble. We desire time to discuss it.
§ The PRIME MINISTERThe hon. Member knows that it is customary to put down two or three Bills, in the hope that you will have a successful evening, but that hope is not always realised. There is no intention to take that particular Bill at any hour of the night that would be generally inconvenient. We have put it down because if hon. Members come back in good humour after their holidays we may get that Bill with others.
§ Mr. ATTLEEWill the Prime Minister say how far it, is proposed to go to-night if we suspend the Eleven o'Clock Rule?
§ The PRIME MINISTERWe hope to get the first three Orders. The Lords Amendments to the Cotton Spinning Industry Bill are, I am scold, not controversial. We hope that the first Order may be finished by about 7.30, in which case we may be able to make good progress and, if we are fortunate enough, be able to complete the Committee stage of the Air Navigation Bill. But we do not propose to sit unduly late to-night.
§
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, 231; Noes, 89.
2207| Division No. 211.] | AYES. | [3.55 p.m. |
| Acland, Rt. Hon. Sir F. Dyke | Guinness, T. L. E. B. | Perkins, W. R. D. |
| Adams, S. V. T. (Leeds, W.) | Gunston, Capt. D. W. | Peters, Dr. S. J. |
| Allen, Lt.-Col. J. Sandeman (B'kn'hd) | Guy, J. C. M. | Petherick, M. |
| Amery, Rt. Hon. L. C. M. S. | Hannah, I. C. | Pickthorn, K. W. M. |
| Anderson, Sir A. Garrett (C. of Ldn.) | Hannon, Sir P. J. H. | Pilkington, R. |
| Astor, Visc'tess (Plymouth, Sutton) | Harris, Sir P. A. | Plugge, L. F. |
| Astor, Hon. W. W. (Fulham, E.) | Hartington, Marquess of | Ponsonby, Col. C. E. |
| Baldwin, Rt. Hon. Stanley | Haslam, Sir J. (Bolton) | Pownall, Sir Assheton |
| Balfour, Capt. H. H. (Isle of Thanet) | Hellgers, Captain F. F. A. | Radford, E. A. |
| Balniel, Lord | Heneage, Lieut. -Colonel A. P. | Ramsbotham, H. |
| Beaumont, M. W. (Aylesbury) | Herbert, A. P. (Oxford U.) | Rathbone, Eleanor (English Univ's.) |
| Belt, Sir A. L. | Herbert, Major J. A. (Monmouth) | Rathbone, J. R. (Bodmin) |
| Bernays, R. H. | Herbert, Captain S. (Abbey) | Rawson, Sir Cooper |
| Birchall, Sir J. D. | Holdsworth, H. | Reed, A. C. (Exeter) |
| Blindell, Sir J. | Holmes, J. S. | Reid, W. Allen (Derby) |
| Bossom, A. C. | Hopkinson, A. | Rickards, G. W. (Skipton) |
| Bower, Comdr. R. T. | Hore-Belisha, Rt. Hon. L. | Roberts, W. (Cumberland, N.) |
| Bowyer, Capt. Sir G. E. W. | Horsbrugh, Florence | Robinson, J. R. (Blackpool) |
| Bracken, B. | Howitt, Dr. A. B. | Ropner, Colonel L. |
| Brass, Sir W. | Hudson, R. S. (Southport) | Ross, Major Sir R. D. (L'derry) |
| Briscoe, Capt. R. G. | Hulbert, N. J. | Rothschild, J. A. de. |
| Brocklebank, C. E. R. | Hunter, T. | Rowlands, G. |
| Brown, Col. D. C. (Hexham) | Hurd, Sir P. A. | Russell, A. West (Tynemouth) |
| Brown, Rt. Hon. E. (Leith) | Inskip, Rt. Hon. Sir T. W. H. | Russell, S. H. M. (Darwen) |
| Brown, Brig.-Gen. H, C. (Newbury) | Jackson, Sir H. | Salmon, Sir I. |
| Bull, B. B. | James, Wing-Commander A. W. | Samuel, Sir A. M. (Farnham) |
| Bullock, Capt. M. | Jarvis, Sir J. J. | Samuel, M. R. A. (Putney) |
| Butler, R. A. | Jones, L. (Swansea, W.) | Sanderson, Sir F. B. |
| Campbell, Sir E. T. | Kerr, H. W. (Oldham) | Sandys. E. D. |
| Cartland, J. R. H. | Kerr, J. Graham (Scottish Univs.) | Sassoon, Rt. Hon. Sir P. |
| Cary, R. A. | Keyes, Admiral of the Fleet Sir R. | Savery, Servington |
| Cayzer, Sir H. R. (Portsmouth, S.) | Kirkpatrick, W. M. | Scott, Lord William |
| Cazalet, Thelma (Islington, E.) | Lamb, Sir J. Q. | Selley, H. R. |
| Cazalet, Capt. V. A. (Chippenham) | Lambert, Rt. Hon. G. | Shakespeare, G. H. |
| Channon, H. | Latham, Sir P. | Simon, Rt. Hon. Sir J. A. |
| Chapman, A. (Rutherglen) | Leckie, J. A. | Smiles, Lieut.-Colonel Sir W. D. |
| Chorlton, A. E. L. | Leech, Dr. J, W. | Smith, Bracewell (Dulwich) |
| Churchill, Rt. Hon. Winston S. | Leigh, Sir J. | Smith, Sir R. W. (Aberdeen) |
| Clarke, F. E. | Leighton, Major B. E. P. | Smithers, Sir W. |
| Clarry, Sir Reginald | Lennox- Boyd, A. T. L. | Somervell, Sir D. B. (Crewe) |
| Colville, Lt.-Col. D. J. | Levy, T. | Somerville, A. A. (Windsor) |
| Cooke, J. D. (Hammersmith, S.) | Lewis, O. | Southby, Comdr. A. R. J. |
| Cooper, Rt. Hn. A. Duff (W'st'r S.G'gs) | Liddall, W. S. | Spears, Brig. -Gen. E. L. |
| Cooper, Rt. Hn. T. M. (E'nburgh, W.) | Lindsay, K. M. | Stanley, Rt. Hon. Lord (Fylde) |
| Courthope, Col. Sir G. L. | Liewellin, Lieut.-Col. J. J. | Stanley, Rt. Hon. Oliver (W'm'I'd) |
| Cranborne, Viscount | Lloyd, G. W. | Storey, S. |
| Croft, Brig. -Gen. Sir H. Page | Lovat-Fraser, J. A. | Strauss, E. A. (Southwark, N.) |
| Crookshank, Capt. H. F. C. | Lyons, A. M. | Strickland, Captain W. F. |
| Crossley, A. C. | Mabane, W. (Huddersfield) | Stuart, Hon. J. (Moray and Nairn) |
| Crowder, J. F. E. | MacAndrew, Colonel Sir C. G. | Sueter, Rear-Admiral Sir M. F. |
| Cuiverwell, C. T. | MacDonald, Rt. Hon M. (Ross) | Sutcliffe, H. |
| Davies, Major G. F. (Yeovil) | McEwen, Capt. J. H. F. | Tasker, Sir R. I. |
| Davison, Sir W. H. | McKie, J. H. | Tate, Mavis C. |
| De chair, S. S. | Maclay, Hon. J. P. | Taylor, Vice-Adm. E. A. (Padd., S.) |
| De la Bère, R. | Macmillan, H. (Stockton-on-Tees) | Thomas, J. P. L. (Hereford) |
| Denman, Hon. R. D. | Macnamara, Capt. J. R. J. | Tree, A. R. L. F. |
| Dorman-Smith. Major R. H. | Magnay, T. | Tufnell, Lieut.-Com. R. L. |
| Duckworth, W. R. (Moss Side) | Makins, Brig. -Gen. E. | Turton, R. H. |
| Duggan, H. J. | Mander, G. le M. | Wakefield, W. W. |
| Duncan, J. A. L. | Manningham-Buller, Sir M. | Wallace, Captain Euan |
| Edmondson, Major Sir J. | Margesson, Capt. Rt. Hon. H. D. R. | Ward, Irene (Wallsend) |
| Elliot, Rt. Hon. W. E. | Markham, S. F. | Wardlaw-Milne, Sir J. S. |
| Emmott, C. E. G. C. | Maxwell, S. A. | Warrender, Sir V. |
| Emrys-Evans, P. V. | Mayhew, Lt.-Col. J. | Waterhouse, Captain C. |
| Entwistle, C. F. | Meller, Sir R. J. (Mitcham) | Wedderburn, H. J. S. |
| Findiay, Sir E. | Mills, Sir F. (Leyton, E.) | Wells, S. R. |
| Fox, Sir G. W. G. | Mitchell, H. (Brentford and Chiswick) | White, H. Graham |
| Fyfe, D. P. M. | Moore, Lieut.-Col. T. C. R. | Wickham, Lt.-Col. E. T. R. |
| Ganzonl, Sir J. | Moreing, A. C. | Williams, C, (Torquay) |
| George, Major G. Lloyd (Pembroke) | Morgan, R. H. | Williams, H. G. (Croydon, S.) |
| Gluckstein, L. H. | Morris-Jones, Dr. J. H. | Wilson, Lt.-Col. Sir A. T. (Hitchin) |
| Goodman, Col. A. W. | Morrison, W. S. (Cirencester) | Windsor-Clive, Lieut.-Colonel G. |
| Gower, Sir R. V. | Muirhead, Lt.-Col. A. J. | Womersley, Sir W. J. |
| Graham, Captain A. C. (Wirral) | Munro, P. | Wood, Rt. Hon. Sir Kingsley |
| Grattan-Doyle, Sir N. | Nicolson, Hon. H. G. | Young, A. S. L. (Partick) |
| Gridley, Sir A. B. | Ormsby-Gore, Rt. Hon. W. G. | |
| Grigg, Sir E. W. M. | Orr-Ewing, I. L. | TELLERS FOR THE AYES.— |
| Grimston, R. V. | Patrick, C. M. | Sir George Penny and Lieut.- |
| Colonel Sir A. Lambert Ward. | ||
| NOES. | ||
| Adams, D. (Consett) | Griffiths, J. (Lianelly) | Parker, H. J. H. |
| Adams, D. M. (Poplar, S.) | Groves, T. E. | Parkinson, J. A. |
| Adamson, W. M. | Hall, G. H. (Aberdare) | Pethick-Lawrence, F. W. |
| Alexander, Rt. Hon. A. V. (H'lsbr.) | Hatt, J. H. (Whitechapel) | Potts, J. |
| Ammon, C. G. | Hardie, G. D. | Price, M P |
| Attlee, Rt. Hon. C. R. | Henderson, A. (Kingswinford) | Pritt, D. N. |
| Batey, J. | Holland, A. | Quibell, D. J. K. |
| Bellenger, F. | Hollins, A. | Ritson, J. |
| Benson, G. | Hopkin, D. | Robinson W. A. (St. Helens) |
| Bevan, A. | Jagger, J. | Rowson, G. |
| Broad, F. A. | Jenkins, A. (Pontypool) | Sexton, T. M. |
| Bromfield, W. | John, W. | Shinwell, E. |
| Burke, W. A. | Jones, A. C. (Shipley) | Silkin, L. |
| Cassells, T. | Jones, Morgan (Caerphilly) | Silverman, S. S. |
| Chater, D. | Kelly, W. T. | Smith, Ben (Rotherhithe) |
| Cocks, F. S. | Kennedy, Rt. Hon. T. | Smith, E (Stoke) |
| Daggar, G. | Kirby, B. V. | Smith, Rt. Hon. H. B. Lees- (K'ly) |
| Dalton, H. | Kirkwood, D. | Sorensen, R. W. |
| Davies, R. J. (Westhoughton) | Lawson, J. J. | Stewart, W. J. (H'ght'n-le-Sp'ng) |
| Day, H. | Leach, W. | Taylor, R. J. (Morpeth) |
| Ede, J. c. | Leonard, W. | Thorne, W, |
| Edwards, A. (Middlesbrough E.) | Leslie, J. R. | Thurtle, E. |
| Edwards, Sir C. (Bedwellty) | Macdonald, G. (Ince) | Tinker, J. J. |
| Evans, D. O. (Cardigan) | McEntee, V. La T. | Viant, S. P. |
| Fletcher, Lt.-Comdr. R. T. H. | Maclean, N. | Watson, W. McL. |
| Gardner, B. W. | MacNeill, Weir, L. | West wood, J. |
| George, Megan Lloyd (Anglesey) | Mathers, G. | Young, Sir R. (Newton) |
| Green, W. H. (Deptford) | Milner, Major J. | |
| Greenwood, Rt. Hon. A. | Montague, F. | TELLERS FOR THE NOES.— |
| Grenfell, D. R. | Morrison, Rt. Hon. H. (Ha'kn'y, S.) | Mr. Whiteley and Mr. Charleton. |
| Griffiths, G. A. (Hemsworth) | Paling, W. |
Second Resolution read a Second time.