HC Deb 15 December 1938 vol 342 cc2182-4
Mr. Attlee

May I ask the Prime Minister what is the Business for next week?

The Prime Minister

The Business for the week will be as follows:

Monday: Committee stage of the Motion relating to the Monument to the late Earl of Oxford and Asquith. Debate on the Opposition Motion of Censure with regard to foreign policy.

Tuesday: Second day's Debate on National Voluntary Service.

Wednesday: Private Members' Motions will be considered.

Thursday: The House will meet at 11 o'clock in the morning. Motion for the Christmas Adjournment until Tuesday, 31st January.

On any day, if there is time, other business may be taken, including the Motion to approve the Coal (Valuation Procedure) Rules, 1938.

There are two other announcements which I might make in connection with business. As I announced in reply to a question on Monday, I hoped that it might be possible before the Christmas Adjournment to have an opportunity to discuss the Motion standing in the name of my hon. Friend the Member for East Lewisham (Sir A. Pownall) with regard to Members' pensions. That has, however, been found impossible. I hope to be able to find an early opportunity for a discussion of this Motion when the House meets again after Christmas. The House will be aware from the terms of the Motion that stands on the Order Paper in my name to-day that it is intended to set up a Select Committee to inquire into Mr. Speaker's seat. The Committee will be nominated as soon as possible, and I hope it will be possible to pass the Motion before the Christmas Recess.

Mr. Attlee

Does the Prime Minister intend that the discussion on the Motion setting up the Committee to deal with the position of Mr. Speaker will be taken at a late hour after 11 o'clock?

The Prime Minister

I do not anticipate that there will be much discussion upon that Motion. It is a matter for the Select Committee to decide themselves.

Mr. Buchanan

Is the Prime Minister aware that the very terms of this Motion commit the House on a certain matter? The terms of the first part saying that the Speaker should not be brought into political controversy commits the House to a certain policy. If the right hon. Gentleman wants this Motion to go through without discussion, he ought to recast it in such a way that this question is left to the Committee to decide.

The Prime Minister

All I had in mind was to try and get a Motion which would ensure general agreement in the House, and I was under the impression that I had done that.

Mr. Buchanan

Is not the Prime Minister aware that the first part of the Motion puts the matter into controversy right away by asking the House to agree that Mr. Speaker should not be the subject of an ordinary Parliamentary contest? Will the Prime Minister reconsider recasting the first part of the Motion so that this question will be remitted to the Select Committee to discuss?

Mr. Mander

May I submit to the Prime Minister that exception may certainly be taken to the first part of the Motion, and that he would obtain unanimity if he withdrew it and put it down again?

The Prime Minister

I regarded the second part of the Motion as the terms of reference to the Committee, and the first part only as a sort of preamble.

Mr. Garro Jones

Will the Prime Minister, therefore, consider amending the Motion to give effect to what he has just stated, particularly with regard to the fact that many hon. Members might be prepared to regard this as an uncontroversial matter if it came to them as a result of the deliberations of a Select Committee, but would not regard it as uncontroversial if it came as the ipse dixit of the Prime Minister?

The Prime Minister

It is desirable that we should agree on the terms of the Motion, and, in view of what has been said, I will consider it further.