§ Mr. GreenwoodI have three questions on business to put to the Prime Minister. I think it will be for the convenience of the House if I ask him first to be good enough to state what will be the business next week.
§ The Prime MinisterMonday and Tuesday: Coal Bill, Committee stage.
Wednesday: Consideration of Private Members' Motions 571 Thursday: Debate on the Opposition Motion of Censure with regard to Special Areas and Unemployment.
Friday: Consideration of Private Members' Bills.
On any day, if there is time, other Orders will be taken.
§ Mr. GreenwoodMay I now ask the right hon. Gentleman for what purpose he is moving to suspend the Eleven o'clock Rule to-night, and whether he has any statement to make as to the proceedings on the Coal Bill to-day?
§ The Prime MinisterI hope that the Committee will be willing to work under some kind of voluntary time-table so far as to-day's proceedings are concerned. I think we might well set ourselves the programme of finishing Clause 4 and making a start on Clause 5, and I venture to suggest the following time-table:
§ Clause 2, to be disposed of by 7 o'clock.
§ Clause 3, to be disposed of by 10.30 p.m.
§ Clause 4, to be disposed of by 11.30 p.m.
§ I would propose that the House should not sit beyond midnight, and we might devote half an hour to the consideration of Clause 5 before reporting Progress.
§ My right hon. and gallant Friend the Patronage Secretary has had conversations through the usual channels and with hon. Members who are specially interested in the Coal Bill, and the time-table which I have suggested would seem to be practicable. I hope that we may count on the good will and co-operation of hon. Members in all parts of the House, because without such co-operation we shall not be able to achieve the programme which I have proposed.
§ Mr. GreenwoodI hope it will be understood that hon. Members on this side of
§ the House have no desire to take up an undue amount of time in discussing their Amendments, but in this matter we are very largely in the hands of hon. Members on the other side of the House, and it is very difficult to forecast exactly how far we may get by midnight if hon. Members' speeches are going to be a little longer than we might anticipate.
§ The Prime MinisterI had that in mind in making an appeal to hon. Members in all parts of the House to co-operate in the programme.
§ Mr. E. SmithWill the Prime Minister bear in mind that on Clause 2, which he expects to finish at 7 o'clock, very serious issues arise affecting urban district councils and municipalities throughout the country; and, in view of that fact, would he be prepared to reconsider the limitation to 7 o'clock of the time it is proposed to devote to that Clause?
§ Mr. GreenwoodWe will see how the Debate goes. May I ask the Prime Minister, further, when it is proposed that the House should rise for the Christmas Recess, and when it is proposed that it should resume in the New Year?
§ The Prime MinisterIt is proposed that the House shall adjourn for Christmas on Thursday, 23rd December, and meet again on Tuesday, 1st February next.
Mr. Vyvyan AdamsIs it the present intention of the Prime Minister to allow any Parliamentary time before Christmas for a discussion of the foreign situation.
§ The Prime MinisterI could not say.
§
Motion made, and Question put,
That the Proceedings on the Coal Bill 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, 266; Noes, 124.