§ Mr. Arthur GreenwoodMay I ask the Leader of the House what business it is proposed to take in the event of the Eleven o'Clock Rule being suspended and, further, whether it is the intention of the Government to afford an early opportunity for debate on the Motion of the Opposition with regard to the situation in Bilbao?
§ Sir J. SimonIn regard to the second question, the Government propose that the Opposition Motion of Censure with regard to the situation in Bilbao shall be debated to-morrow. Consequently the Committee stage of the Special Areas Bill, already announced for consideration on that day, will be postponed. As regards the suspension of the Eleven o'Clock Rule, that suspension is only precautionary, and is to cover the Motion to move Mr. Speaker out of the Chair and the consideration of the two Buildings Votes in Committee of Supply. We propose to take the Army Annual Bill to-night, and I venture to express the hope that the first Order will be disposed of at such an hour as will enable us to begin the Committee stage of the Army Annual Bill well before Eleven o'clock. The Bill is, of course, exempted business, and only yesterday the Prime Minister reminded the House that it must be passed into law before the end of the month. The Government will lose a day on account of the Vote of Censure, and to that extent we shall be behind with our programme. We must, therefore, ask the House to deal, with the Army Annual Bill to-night.
§ Mr. BennIn view of the Debate tomorrow, can the Government make available the text of the letter sent by the Captain of the "Blanche" to British merchantmen ordering them to remain in port?
§ Sir J. SimonThe right hon. Gentleman sent me a message a few moments ago on this matter, and I have made such inquiries as I could. I cannot give any information at the moment, but inquiry shall be made and we will see what can be done.
§ Mr. MaxtonAre we to take it from the speech of the Home Secretary that the Committee stage of the Army Annual Bill will be proceeded with at whatever hour it is possible to get at it? On previous occasions we have had pledges, I think, that this Measure would not be taken during the night. It might well be that the business of moving Mr. Speaker out of the Chair will not be concluded until a late hour to-night. Do I understand that the Government propose to proceed with the Army Annual Bill even at a late hour?
Lieut.-Colonel Sir William AllenHas the Home Secretary seen the Amendments to the Army Annual Bill that are on the Paper, and will he not consider that it will take some hours to discuss them, even in the small hours of the morning?
§ Sir J. SimonIt is a matter of regret if one has to sit late, and with good will
§ I do not believe it will be necessary; but we must make the most of possibilities, and I hope that we shall dispose of the first Order on the Paper not at a late hour, and then get on with the Army Annual Bill.
§ Mr. MaxtonSurely the right hon. Gentleman is not treating the House very courteously. Every one knows that the Army Annual Bill must be passed before a certain date, but that date is still a considerable distance away. Why should the House be asked to undertake to-day a programme of business which must necessarily take us well into the night, when there is a very important Debate to take place to-morrow on a Vote of Censure, when most Members will wish to be present? The right hon. Gentleman is not treating the House quite fairly. I ask him to consider whether to-night is the only possible night for the Army Annual Bill to be taken.
§ Sir J. SimonI should be as glad as the hon. Member if I could give a firm assurance about it. We must see how we get on. I cannot give an assurance until I see what progress is made.
§
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, 269; Noes, 115.
803| Division No. 133.] | AYES. | [4.3 p.m. |
| Acland, Rt. Hon. Sir F. Dyke | Bullock, Capt. M. | Denville, Alfred |
| Acland, R. T. D. (Barnstaple) | Burghley, Lord | Doland, G. F. |
| Acland-Troyte, Lt.-Col. G. J. | Butler, R. A. | Donner, P. W. |
| Agnew, Lieut.-Comdr. P. G. | Caine, G. R. Hall. | Dorman-Smith, Major R. H. |
| Albery, Sir Irving | Campbell, Sir E. T. | Drewe, C. |
| Allen, Lt.-Col. J. Sandeman (B'kn'hd) | Cartland, J. R. H. | Duckworth, W. R. (Moss Side) |
| Allen, Lt.-Col. Sir W. J. (Armagh) | Carver, Major W. H. | Dugdale, Major T. L. |
| Anstruther-Gray, W. J. | Cary, R. A. | Duggan, H. J. |
| Assheton, R. | Cayzer, Sir H. R. (Portsmouth, S.) | Duncan, J. A. L. |
| Astor, Viscountess (Plymouth, Sutton) | Cazalet, Thelma (Islington, E.) | Dunglass, Lord |
| Astor, Hon. W. W. (Fulham, E.) | Chamberlain, Rt. Hn. N. (Edgb't'n) | Eastwood, J. F. |
| Baillie, Sir A. W. M, | Channon, H. | Eden, Rt. Hon. A. |
| Baldwin-Webb, Col. J. | Chorlton, A. E. L. | Elliot, Rt. Hon. W. E. |
| Barclay-Harvey, Sir C. M. | Clarke, Lt.-Col. R. S. (E. Grinstead) | Ellis, Sir G. |
| Barrie, Sir C. C. | Clarry, Sir Reginald | Elliston, Capt. G. S. |
| Baxter, A. Beverley | Colville, Lt.-Col. Rt. Hon. D J. | Elmley, Viscount |
| Beaumont, Hon. R. E. B. (Portsm'h) | Cook, Sir T. R. A. M. (Norfolk, N.) | Emery, J. F. |
| Bernays, R. H. | Cooke, J. D. (Hammersmith, S.) | Emmott, C. E. G. C. |
| Blair, Sir R. | Cooper. Rt. Hn. A. Duff (W'st'r S. G'gs) | Emrys-Evans, P. V. |
| Blaker, Sir R. | Cooper, Rt. Hn. T. M. (E'nburgh, W.) | Entwistle, Sir C. F. |
| Blindell, Sir J. | Courthope, Col. Sir G. L. | Erskine-Hill, A. G. |
| Boulton, W. W. | Cranborne, Viscount | Evans, D. O. (Cardigan) |
| Bowater, Col. Sir T. Vansittart | Croft, Brig.-Gen. Sir H. Page | Evans, E. (Univ. of Wales) |
| Bower, Comdr. R. T. | Crooke, J. S. | Fox, Sir G. W. G. |
| Bowyer, Capt. Sir G. E. W. | Crookshank, Capt. H. F. C. | Furness, S. N. |
| Boyce, H. Leslie | Cruddas, Col. B. | Ganzoni, Sir J. |
| Briscoe, Capt. R. G. | Culverwell, C. T. | George, Major G. Lloyd (Pembroke) |
| Brown, Rt. Hon. E. (Leith) | Davies, Major Sir G. F. (Yeovil) | Gilmour, Lt.-Col. Rt. Hon. Sir J. |
| Brown, Brig.-Gen. H. C. (Newbury) | Davison, Sir W. H. | Gluckstein, L. H. |
| Bull, B. B. | Denman, Hon. R. D. | Goodman, Col. A. W. |
| Gower, Sir R. V. | Mabane, W, (Huddersfield) | Salt, E. W. |
| Graham, Captain A. C. (Wirral) | MacAndrew, Colonel Sir C. G. | Samuel, M. R. A. |
| Grant-Ferris, R. | McCorquodale, M. S. | Sandeman, Sir N. S. |
| Grattan-Doyle, Sir N. | MacDonald, Rt. Hon. M. (Ross) | Sanderson, Sir F. B. |
| Gretton, Col. Rt. Hon. J. | Macdonald, Capt. P. (Isle of Wight) | Savory, Sir Servington |
| Gridle[...], Sir A. B. | McEwen, Capt. J. H. F. | Scott, Lord William |
| Grigg, Sir E. W. M. | McKie, J. H. | Seely, Sir H. M. |
| Grimston, R. V. | Maclay, Hon. J. P. | Selley, H. R. |
| Guest, Hon. I. (Brecon and Radnor) | Macmillan, H. (Stockton-on-Tees) | Shaw, Major P. S. (Wavertree) |
| Guinness, T. L. E. B. | Macnamara, Capt. J. R. J. | Shepperson, Sir E. W. |
| Gunston, Capt. D. W. | Macquisten, F. A. | Simon, Rt. Hon. Sir J. A |
| Guy, J. C. M. | Makins, Brig.-Gen. E. | Sinclair, Rt. Hon. Sir A. (C'thn's) |
| Hacking, Rt. Han. D. H. | Mander, G. le M. | Sinclair, Col. T. (Queen's U. B'lf'st) |
| Hamilton, Sir G. C. | Manningham-Buller, Sir M. | Smiles, Lieut.-Colonel Sir W D. |
| Hannah, I. C. | Margesson, Capt. Rt. Hon. H. D. R. | Smith, Bracewell (Dulwich) |
| Hannon, Sir P. J. H. | Markham, S. F. | Smith, L. W. (Hallam) |
| Harbord, A. | Mayhew, Lt.-Col. J. | Smith, Sir R. W. (Aberdeen) |
| Harris, Sir P. A. | Meller, Sir R. J. (Miteham) | Somerville, A. A. (Windsor) |
| Hartington, Marquess of | Mellor, Sir J. S. P. (Tamworth) | Southby, Commander A. R. J. |
| Harvey, Sir G. | Mills, Sir F. (Leyton, E.) | Spears, Brigadier-General E L. |
| Harvey, T. E. (Eng. Univ's.) | Mills, Major J. D. (New Forest) | Stanley, Rt. Hon. Oliver (W'm'l'd) |
| Haslam, H. C. (Horncastle) | Mitchell, Sir W. Lane (Streatham) | Stewart, J. Henderson (Fife, E.) |
| Heilgers, Captain F. F. A. | Moore, Lieut.-Col. T. C. R. | Stewart, William J. (Belfast, S.) |
| Heneage, Lieut.-Colonel A P. | Moreing, A. C. | Stourton Major Hon J. J. |
| Hepburn, P. G. T. Buchan- | Morgan, R. H. | Strauss, E, A. (Southwark, N.) |
| Hepworth, J. | Morris, O. T. (Cardiff, E.) | Strauss, H. G. (Norwich) |
| Herbert, Major J. A. (Monmouth) | Morris-Jones, Sir Henry | Strickland, Captain W. F. |
| Herbert, Capt. Sir S. (Abbey) | Morrison, G. A. (Scottish Univ's.) | Stuart, Hon. J, (Moray and Nairn) |
| Hills, Major Rt. Hon. J. W. (Ripon) | Morrison, Rt. Hon. W. S. (Cirencester) | Sueter, Rear-Admiral Sir M. F. |
| Holdsworth, H. | Neven-Spence, Major B. H. H. | Sutcliffe, H. |
| Holmes, J. S. | Nicolson, Hon. H. G. | Tate, Mavis C. |
| Hope, Captain Hon. A. O. J. | Nicholson, G. (Farnham) | Taylor, C. S. (Eastbourne) |
| Horsbrugh, Florence | Orr-Ewing, I. L. | Taylor, Vice-Adm. E. A. (Padd., S.) |
| Hudson Cant. A. U. M. (Hack., N.) | ||
| Hudson, R. S. (Southport) | Owen, Major G. | Thomas, J. P. L. |
| Hulbert, N. J. | Palmer, G. E. H. | Thomson, Sir J. D. W. |
| Hunter, T. | Patrick, C. M. | Touche, G. C. |
| Hurd, Sir P. A. | Peake, O. | Train, Sir J. |
| James, Wing-Commander A. W. H. | Peat, C. U. | Tree,_A. R. L. F. |
| Jarvis, Sir J. J. | Perkins, W. R. D. | Turton, R. H. |
| Jones, H. Haydn (Merioneth) | Peters, Dr. S. J. | Ward, Irene M. B. (Wallsend) |
| Jones, L. (Swansea W.) | Petherick, M. | Warrender, Sir V. |
| Keeling, E. H. | Pickthorn, K. W. M. | Watt, G. S. H. |
| Kerr, H. W. (Oldham) | Pilkington, R. | Wayland, Sir W. A |
| Kerr, J. Graham (Scottish Univs.) | Plugge, Capt. L. F. | Wedderburn, H. J. S. |
| Knox, Major-General Sir A. W. F. | Pownall, Lt.-Col. Sir Assheton | Wells, S. R. |
| Lamb, Sir J. Q. | Radford. E. A. | Wickham, Lt.-Col. E. T. R. |
| Lambert, Rt. Hon. G. | Ramsbotham, H. | Williams, C. (Torquay) |
| Latham, Sir P. | Ramsden, Sir E. | Williams, H. G. (Croydon, S.) |
| Law, Sir A. J. (High Peak) | Rathbone, J. R. (Bodmin) | Willoughby de Eresby, Lord |
| Leckie, J. A. | Rayner, Major R. H. | Wilson, Lt.-Col. Sir A. T. (Hitchin) |
| Leigh, Sir J. | Reid, Captain A. Cunningham | Winterton, Rt. Hon. Earl |
| Leighton, Major B. E. P. | Reid, Sir D. O. (Down) | Withers, Sir J. J. |
| Lennox-Boyd, A. T. L. | Reid, W. Allan (Derby) | Wood, Rt. Hon. Sir Kingsley |
| Levy, T. | Rickards, G. W. (Skipton) | Wragg, H. |
| Lewis, O. | Roberts, W. (Cumberland, N.) | Wright, Squadron-Leader J. A. C. |
| Liddall, W. S. | Robinson, J. R. (Blackpool) | Young, A. S. L. (Partick) |
| Llewellin, Lieut.-Col. J. J. | Ropner, Colonel L. | |
| Lloyd, G. W. | Rothschild, J. A. da | TELLERS FOR THE AYES.— |
| Locker-Lampson, Comdr. O. S | Rowlands, G. | Sir George Penny and Lieut.- |
| Loftus, P. C. | Russell, A. West (Tynemouth) | Colonel Sir A. Lambert Ward. |
| Lyons, A. M. | Salmon, Sir I. | |
| NOES. | ||
| Adams, D. (Consett) | Daggar, G. | Hopkin, D. |
| Adams, D. M. (Poplar, S.) | Davidson, J. J. (Maryhill) | Jagger, J. |
| Adamson, W. M. | Davies, S. O. (Merthyr) | Jenkins, A. (Pontypool) |
| Alexander, Rt. Hon. A. V. (H'lsbr.) | Day, H. | Jenkins, Sir W. (Neath) |
| Ammon, C. G. | Debbie, W. | John, W. |
| Banfield, J. W. | Dunn, E. (Rother Valley) | Johnston, Rt. Hon. T. |
| Barnes, A. J. | Ede, J. C. | Jones, A. C. (Shipley) |
| Barr, J. | Edwards, Sir C. (Bedwellty) | Jones, Morgan (Caerphilly) |
| Batey, J. | Fletcher, Lt.-Comdr. R. T. H. | Kelly, W. T. |
| Bellenger, F. J. | Gardner, B, W. | Kennedy, Rt. Hon. T. |
| Benn, Rt. Hon. W. W. | Gibson, R. (Greenock) | Kirby, B. V. |
| Bevan, A. | Green, W. H. (Deptford) | Lawson, J. J. |
| Broad, F. A. | Greenwood, Rt. Hon. A. | Lee, F. |
| Bromfield, W. | Griffiths, G. A. (Hemsworth) | Leonard, W. |
| Brooke, W. | Griffiths. J. (Llanelly) | Logan, D. G. |
| Brown, Rt. Hon. J. (S. Ayrshire) | Hall, G. H. (Aberdare) | Lunn, W. |
| Buchanan, G. | Hall, J. H. (Whitechapel) | Macdonald, G. (Ince) |
| Burke, W. A. | Hardie, G. D. | McEntee, V. La T. |
| Charleton, H. C. | Henderson, A. (Kingswinford) | McGhee, H. G. |
| Chater, D. | Henderson, J. (Ardwick) | Maclean, N. |
| Cove, W. G. | Henderson, T. (Tradeston) | MacNeill, Weir, L. |
| Mainwaring, W. H. | Robinson, W. A. (St. Helens) | Thurtle, E. |
| Marshall, F. | Rowson, G. | Tinker, J. J. |
| Mathers, G. | Sanders, W. S. | Viant, S. P. |
| Maxton, J. | Sexton. T. M. | Walker, J. |
| Messer, F. | Shinwell, E. | Watkins, F. C. |
| Milner, Major J. | Short, A. | Watson, W. McL. |
| Noel-Baker, P. J. | Silverman, S. S. | Welsh, J. C. |
| Oliver, G. H. | Simpson, F. B. | Westwood, J. |
| Paling, W. | Smith, Ben (Rotherhithe) | White, H. Graham |
| Parkinson, J. A. | Smith, E. (Stoke) | Williams, D. (Swansea, E.) |
| Potts, J. | Smith, Rt. Hon. H. B. Lees- (K'ly) | Williams, E. J. (Ogmore) |
| Price, M. P. | Smith, T. (Normanton) | Williams, T. (Don Valley) |
| Pritt, D. N. | Sorensen, R. W. | Wilson, C. H. (Attercliffe) |
| Richards, R. (Wrexham) | Stephen, C. | Windsor, W. (Hull, C.) |
| Ridley, G. | Stewart, W. J. (H'ght'n-le-Sp'ng) | Woods, G. S. (Finsbury) |
| Riley, B. | Strauss, G. R. (Lambeth, N.) | Young, Sir R. (Newton) |
| Ritson, J, | Taylor, R. J. (Morpeth) | |
| Roberts, Rt. Hon. F. O. (W. Brom.) | Thorne, W. | TELLERS FOR THE NOES.— |
| Mr. Whiteley and Mr. Groves. |