HC Deb 18 March 1937 vol 321 cc2265-9
Mr. Attlee

May I ask the Prime Minister what business he proposes to take to-day in the event of the Motion on the Paper being carried, also the business for next week, and on what day the Chancellor of the Exchequer will open his Budget?

The Prime Minister

We desire to take to-day the Report stage of the Navy and Army Estimates and the Committee and remaining stages of the Merchant Shipping (Spanish Frontiers Observation) Bill [Lords]. The business for next week is as follows:

Monday:—Supply [4th Allotted Day]. Report stage of the Air Estimates and of any outstanding Estimates, as well as the Report stage of the necessary Ways and Means Resolutions. Consideration of the Iron and Steel Import Duty Order, if not previously disposed of, and Second Reading of the National Health Insurance Act (Amendment) Bill [Lords] from another place.

Tuesday:—Second Reading of the Consolidated Fund Bill. A Debate will take place on land drainage, with special reference to the position in the Fen district.

Wednesday:—Remaining stages of the Consolidated Fund Bill. A Debate will take place on profiteering and prices, particularly in relation to the rearmament programme.

As opportunity offers during the week, we shall take other business, including any Lords Amendments to Bills which may come from another place.

The House will meet at 11 o'clock in the morning on Thursday, 25th March, when we shall take the Motion for the Easter Adjournment.

The House will meet again after the Recess on Tuesday, 6th April. The business to be taken during that week will be announced later.

The Chancellor will open his Budget on Tuesday, 20th April.

Sir R. Ross

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether, in view of the great difficulty experienced during the consideration of the three Services Estimates, the Committee stage being not reached at all in one case and it being so late in the other cases that no proper discussion could take place, the period of one day is sufficient, and whether the matter can be considered or examined before next year?

Sir P. Harris

I note that the Iron and Steel Import Duty proposals are to be put down for Monday evening. May we have an undertaking that, if they are not reached before, say, eight o'clock, they will be postponed until afterwards?

The Prime Minister

No, I must repeat what I said yesterday. We must wait and see how we get on. I assure hon. Members that there is no desire to be unreasonable, and we will wait and see how we get on.

Sir R. Ross

Will the right hon. Gentleman say whether the question as to the adequacy of one day for Service Estimates can, at all events, be examined?

The Prime Minister

I really cannot answer a question about next year now. These questions are always under consideration, and I suggest most respectfully that my hon. Friend should put his question again in 12 months' time.

Mr. Stephen

Does the Prime Minister intend that we shall sit late, if necessary, to-night, in order to get the Merchant Shipping (Spanish Frontiers Observation) Bill?

The Prime Minister

I hope that it will not be necessary, but we must get that Bill to-morrow. It is a Bill of urgency.

Motion made, and Question put, That this day, notwithstanding anything in Standing Order No. 14, the Report of the Navy Supplementary Estimate, 1936,

Vote A and Navy Supplementary Estimate; and of the Navy Excess, 1935; the Report of the Army Supplementary Estimate, 1936; and of the Army (Royal Ordnance Factories) Supplementary Estimate, 1936, and Business other than the Business of Supply, may be considered before Eleven of the clock, and 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, 242; Noes, 123.

Division No. 115.] AYES. [3.51. p.m.
Acland-Troyte, Lt.-Col. G. J. Dugdale, Major T. L. Liddall, W. S.
Agnew, Lieut.-Comdr. P. G. Duggan, H. J. Lindsay, K. M.
Albery, Sir Irving Duncan, J. A. L. Llewellin, Lieut.-Col, J, J.
Allan, Lt.-Col. Sir W. J. (Armagh) Dunglass, Lord Lloyd, G. W.
Amery, Rt. Hon, L. C. M. S. Ellis, Sir G. Locker-Lampson, Comdr. O. S.
Anstruther-Gray, W. J. Elliston, Capt. G. S. Loftus, P. C.
Apsley, Lord Elmley, Viscount Lovat-Fraser, J. A.
Aske, Sir R. W. Emmott, C. E. G. C. Lumley, Capt. L. R.
Assheton, R. Emrvs-Evans, P. V. MacAndrew, Colonel Sir C. G.
Astor, Viscountess (Plymouth, Sutton) Entwistle, Sir C. F. McCorquodale, M. S.
Astor, Hon. W. W. (Fulham, E.) Errington, E. MacDonald, Rt. Hon. J. R. (Soot. U.)
Atholl, Duchess of Erskine-Hill, A. G. Maodonald, Capt. P. (Isle of Wight)
Baldwin, Rt. Hon. Stanley Evans, Capt. A. (Cardiff, S.) McEwen, Capt. J. H. F.
Balfour, Capt. H. H. (Isle of Thanet) Evans, E. (Univ. of Wales) McKie, J. H.
Beaumont, Hon. R. E. B. (Portsm'h) Everard, W. L. Maclay, Hon. J. P.
Bennett, Sir E. N. Findlay, Sir E. Macquisten, F. A.
Fox, Sir G. W. G. Magnay, T.
Bernayt, R. H. Fremantle, Sir F. E. Makins, Brig.-Gen. E.
Birohall, Sir J. D. Furness, S. N. Manningham-Buller, Sir M.
Blair, Sir R. Ganzoni, Sir J. Margesson, Capt. Rt. Hon. H. D. R.
Blinded, Sir J. Gilmour, Lt.-Col. Rt. Hon. Sir J. Markham, S. F.
Bossom, A. C. Gluckstein, L. H. Maxwell, Hon. S. A.
Boulton, W. W. Glyn, Major Sir R. G. C. Mayhew, Lt.-Col. J.
Bowyer, Capt. Sir G. E. W. Grant-Ferris, R. Mellor, Sir J. S. P. (Tamworth)
Braithwaite, Major A. N. Grattan Doyle, Sir N. Mitchell, H. (Brentford and Chiswick)
Brocklebank, C. E. R. Gretton, Col. Rt. Hon. J. Mitchell, Sir W. Lane (Streatham)
Brown, Col. D. C. (Hexham) Gridley, Sir A. B. Morgan, R. H.
Brown, Rt. Hon. E. (Leith) Grimston, R. V. Morris, O. T. (Cardiff, E.)
Brown, Brig.-Gen. H. C. (Newbury) Guest, Han. I. (Brecon and Radnor) Morris-Jones, Sir Henry
Browne, A. C. (Belfast, W.) Gunston, Capt. D. W. Morrison, Rt. Hon. W. S, (Cirencester)
Bull, B. B. Guy, J. C. M. Munro, P.
Burgin, Dr. E. L. Hamilton, Sir G. C. Nail, Sir J.
Butler, R. A. Harbord, A. Neven-Spence, Major B. H. H.
Campbell, Sir E. T. Hartington, Marquess of O'Connor, Sir Terence J.
Cartland, J. R. H. Haslam, H. C. (Hornoastle) O'Neill, Major Rt. Hon. Sir Hugh
Carver, Major W. H. Heilgers, Captain F. F. A. Orr-Ewing, I. L.
Cary, R. A. Heneage, Lieut.-Colonel A. P. Palmer, G. E. H.
Cayzer, Sir C. W. (City of Chester) Herbert, Major J. A. (Monmouth) Petherick, M.
Cazalet, Thelma (Islington, E.) Hills, Major Rt. Hon. J. W. (Ripon) Pickthorn, K. W. M.
Chamberlain, Rt. Hn. N. (Edgb't'n) Hoare, Rt. Hon. Sir S. Plugge, Capt. L. F.
Channon, H. Holmes, J. S. Pensonby, Col. C. E.
Chapman, Sir S. (Edinburgh, S.) Hope, Captain Hon. A. O. J. Pewnall, Lt.-Col. Sir Assheton
Churchill, Rt. Hon. Winston S. Hopkinson, A. Procter, Major H. A.
Clarke, Lt.-Col. R. S. (E. Grinstead) Hore-Belisha, Rt. Hon. L. Radford, E. A.
Clydesdale, Marquess of Horsbrugh, Florence Ramsay, Captain A. H. M.
Colman, N. C. D. Hudson, Capt. A. U. M. (Hack., N.) Ramsbotham, H.
Colville, Lt.-Col. Rt. Hon. D. J. Hulbert, N. J. Ramsden, Sir E.
Cooper, Rt. Hn. A. Duff (W'st'r S. G'gs) Hume, Sir G. H. Rankin, Sir R.
Courthope, Col. Sir G. L. Hunter, T. Rathbone, J. R. (Bodmin)
Cranborne, Viscount Inskip, Rt. Hon. Sir T. W. H. Rayner, Major R. H.
Croft, Brig.-Gen. Sir H. Page James, Wing-Commander A. W. H. Reed, A. C. (Exeter)
Crooks, J. S. Jarvis, Sir J. J. Reid, W. Allan (Derby)
Cross, R. H. Jones, L. (Swansea W.) Rickards, G. W. (Skipton)
Crowder, J. F. E. Kerr, H. W. (Oldham) Robinson, J. R. (Blackpool)
Cruddas, Col. B. Kerr, J. Graham (Scottish Univs.) Ropner, Colonel L.
Culverwell, C. T. Keyes, Admiral of the Fleet Sir R. Ross, Major Sir R. D. (Londonderry)
Davies, Major Sir G. F. (Yeovil) Knox, Major-General Sir A. W. F. Ross Taylor, W. (Woodbridge)
Davison, Sir W. H. Lamb, Sir J. Q. Rowlands, G.
e Chair, S. S. Latham, Sir P. Ruggles-Brise, Colonel Sir E. A.
De la Bère, R. Law, R. K. (Hull, S.W.) Runeiman, Rt. Hon. W.
Denman, Hon. R. D. Leekie, J. A. Russell, A. West (Tynemouth)
Despeneer-Robertson, Major J. A. F. Leech, Dr. J. W. Russell, S. H. M. (Darwen)
Donner, P. W. Lees-Jones, J. Salmoon, Sir I.
Dorman-Smith, Major R. H. Lelghton, Major B. E. P. Salt, E. W.
Duckworth, Arthur (Shrewsbury) Lewis, O.
Samuel, M. R. A. Tasker, Sir R. I. Watt, G. S. H.
Sandeman, Sir N. S. Tate, Mavis C. Wedderburn, H. J. S.
Sanderson, Sir F. B. Taylor, C. S. (Eastbourne) Wells, S. R.
Sassoon, Rt. Han. Sir P. Taylor, Vice-Adm. E. A. Padd., S.) Wiskham, Lt.-Col. E, T. R.
Soott, Lord William Thomson, Sir J. D. W. Williams, H. G. (Croydon, S.)
Shaw, Major P. S. (Wavertree) Titchfield, Marquess of Willoughby de Eresby, Lord
Simon, Rt. Hon. Sir J. A. Touche, G. C. Wilson, Lt.-Col. Sir A. T. (Hitshin)
Smiles, Lieut.-Colonel Sir W. D. Train, Sir J. Winterton, Rt. Hon. Earl
Smith, L. W. (Hallam) Tree, A. R. L. F. Womersley, Sir W. J.
Somerset, T. Tryon, Major Rt. Hon. G. C. Wood, Rt. Hon. Sir Kingsley
Southby, Commander A. R. J. Tufnell, Lieut-Commander R. L. Wragg, H.
Spears, Brigadier-General E. L. Wakefield, W. W. Wright, Squadron-Leader J. A. C.
Stanley, Rt. Hon. Oliver (W'm'l'd) Walker-Smith, Sir J. Young, A. S. L. (Partick)
Stewart, J. Henderson (Fife, E.) Wallace, Capt. Rt. Hon. Euan
Strauss, E. A. (Southwark, N.) Ward, Irene M. B. (Wallsend) TELLERS FOR THE AYES.—
Strickland, Captain W. F. Wardlaw-Milne, Sir J. S. Sir George Penny and Lieut.-
Stuart, Hon. J. (Moray and Nairn) Warrendor, Sir V. Colonel Sir A. Lambert Ward.
Sueter, Rear-Admiral Sir M. F. Waterhoust, Captain C.
NOES.
Adams, D. M. (Poplar, S.) Harris, Sir P. A. Richards, R. (Wrexham)
Adamson, W. M. Hayday, A. Ridley, G.
Alexander, Rt. Hon. A. V. (H'lsbr.) Henderson, A. (Kingswinford) Ritson, J.
Ammon, C. G. Henderson, J. (Ardwick) Roberts, W. (Cumberland, N.)
Attlee, Rt. Hon. C. R. Henderson, T. (Tradeston) Rothschild, J. A. de
Barnes, A. J. Hollins, A. Rowson, G.
Barr, J. Hopkin, D. Sanders, W. S.
Batey, J. Jenkins, A. (Pontypool) Seely, Sir H. M.
Bellenger, F. J. John, W. Sexton, T. M.
Bonn, Rt. Hon. W. W. Jones, A. C. (Shipley) Shinwell, E.
Benson, G. Jones, Morgan (Caerphilly) Short, A.
Broad, F. A. Kelly, W. T. Silverman, S. S.
Brooke, W. Kennedy, Rt. Hon. T. Simpson, F. B.
Brown, C. (Mansfield) Kirby, B. V. Smith, Ben (Rotherhithe)
Buchanan, G. Lathan, G. Smith, E. (Stoke)
Cassells, T. Lawson, J. J. Smith, Rt. Hon. H. B. Lees- (K'ly)
Charleton, H. C. Leach, W. Smith, T. (Normanton)
Cluse, W. S. Lee, F. Sorensen, R. W.
Clynes, Rt. Hon. J. R. Leonard, W. Stephen, C.
Cocks, F. S. Leslie, J. R. Stewart, W. J. (H'ght'n-le-Sp'ng)
Daggar, G. Logan, D. G. Strauss, G. R. (Lambeth, N.)
Dalton, H. Lunn, W. Taylor, R. J. (Morpeth)
Davidson, J. J. (Maryhill) Macdonald, G. Ince) Thorne, W.
Davies, S. O. (Merthyr) McEntee, V. La T. Thurtle, E.
Day, H. McGhee, H. G. Tinker, J. J.
Dobbie, W. MoGovern, J. Vlant, S. P.
Dunn, E. (Rother Valley) Maclean, N. Walkdan, A. G.
Ede, J. C. Marshall, F. Walker, J.
Edwards, A. (Middlesbrough E.) Maxton, J. Watson, W. McL.
Edwards, Sir C. (Bedwellty) Messer, F. Wedgwood, Rt. Hon. J. C.
Fletcher, Lt.-Comdr. R. T. H. Montague, F. Westwood, J.
Frankel, D. Muff, G. White, H. Graham
Gallacher, W. Naylor, T. E. Whiteley, W.
Garro Jones, G. M. Noel-Baker, P. J. Williams, E. J. (Ogmore)
George, Major G. Lloyd (Pembroke) Oliver, G. H. Williams, T. (Don Valley)
Glbbins, J. Owen, Major G. Wilson, C. H. (Attercliffe)
Greenwood, Rt. Hon. A. Paling, W. Windsor, W. (Hull, C.)
Griffiths, G. A. (Hemsworth) Parker, J. Woods, G. S. (Finsbury)
Griffiths, J. (Llanelly) Parkinson, J. A. Young, Sir R. (Newton)
Hall, G. H. (Aberdare) Pethick-Lawrence, F. W.
Hall, J. H. (Whitechapel) Potts, J. TELLERS FOR THE NOES.—
Hardie, G. D. Price, M. P. Mr. Mathers and Mr. Groves.

First Resolution read a Second time.