§ Mr. AttleeCan the Prime Minister make any statement with regard to the White Paper on Defence and the business for this week?
§ The Prime MinisterThe White Paper on Defence will be available to Members in the Vote Office to-morrow evening. I 849 think there is a general desire that two days should be given to the Debate on the Committee stage of the Defence Loans Money Resolution. Accordingly, the Government propose to allocate Wednesday and Thursday of this week for the Debate. We then propose to take the Report stage after Private Members' business on Friday, by agreement, so that the Bill may be made available to Members forthwith. The Debate on the report on the Gresford Colliery disaster will be postponed until next week.
§ Mr. AttleeThe right hon. Gentleman will realise that the issue of the White Paper on Defence will precede the Debate by a very short time. Will he, therefore, do his utmost to get the Paper out as early as possible to-morrow?
§ The Prime MinisterWe certainly will, but I am sure the right hon. Gentleman realises the difficulty of getting out such a White Paper in such a short time.
§ Mr. MaxtonThe Chief Whip did me the honour of informing me of the arrangement which has just been announced. I only wish to say that I think the arrangement for Wednesday and Thursday reasonable and right. I think we should have the Debate at the earliest possible moment and that two days is an adequate time. But with reference to giving the Report stage of the Resolution on Friday, by agreement, I would like very much to see the White Paper and to hear the Debate on Wednesday and Thursday before consenting to that.
§ The Prime MinisterAs I said, it can only be done by agreement.