BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE. (Hansard, 22 April 1937)

§ Mr. Attlee
I wish to ask the Prime Minister three questions on business—for what he proposes to suspend the Eleven o'clock Rule and how late it is intended to go; what is the business for next week; and, thirdly, whether he can give the date of the Recess?

§ The Prime Minister
I cannot answer the third question to-day. We are suspending the Rule to-night in order to take the Committee stage of the Special Areas (Amendment) Bill. I hope it will not be necessary to sit late. If no Amendment is made, there will be no Report stage and we shall be able to take the Third Reading on Monday. It is necessary to pass the Bill by the end of May, and we are anxious to get it to another place as early as possible because there will be a longish Recess at the Coronation. With regard to the business for next week—
On Monday, we shall further consider the Special Areas Bill and take other Orders if there is time.
Tuesday will be set apart for the Report stage of the Budget Resolutions.
Wednesday: The Report stage of the Livestock Industry Bill will be taken.
Thursday: The Committee stage of the Ministers of the Crown Bill.
Friday will be the last day this Session for the consideration of Private Members' Bills.
During the week progress will be made with other Government business as time and opportunity offer.

§ Mr. Attlee
May we take it that the Report stage of the Livestock Industry Bill is unlikely to be completed on Wednesday.

§ Mr. Attlee
May I also ask whether it will be possible fairly soon to give the date of the Whitsun Recess in view of the difficulty of hon. Members in making their arrangements during the Coronation period?

§ The Prime Minister
I hope to be in a position early next week to give the necessary information.

§ Mr. Batey
Are we to understand that, starting at it o'clock to-night, the Prime Minister proposes to finish the Committee stage of the Special Areas Bill? Will he keep in mind that up to the moment only Clause 1 has been dealt with, and that there are nine Clauses remaining to be considered and there are about a dozen Amendments? Is it fair to start the Bill to-night? Will he also keep in mind that we have had only one day for the Committee stage of the Bill, and that it is most unusual for an important Bill to be given only one day? Could we not have another day?

§ The Prime Minister
There are two points arising out of that question. It does not necessarily follow that the Bill will not be reached before 11 o'clock. We all hope that proceedings on the Budget Resolutions may finish at such a time that we may be able to start earlier. There was an understanding—perhaps the hon. Member was not in the House—that it might be possible that we might be able to take the remainder of the Committee stage without sitting unduly late. I say no more at the moment.

§ Mr. Batey
Would it not be better on the part of the Prime Minister, instead of making it so difficult for those of us who come from the Special Areas and who feel very strongly on this matter, and beginning the Debate after 11 o'clock, to give other facilities? For instance, would it not be better instead of adjourning the House for the whole of Coronation week to allow the House to sit on the Monday and Tuesday before the Coronation, and by so doing give us another day for the discussion of this Bill?

§ The Prime Minister
All that I can say in reply to the hon. Member is that I suppose he thinks that, whatever a Prime Minister may do, he can do something better.