HC Deb 17 November 1938 vol 341 cc1060-2
Mr. Attlee

Will the Prime Minister inform us what the business will be for next week?

The Prime Minister

Monday—Second Reading of the Prevention of Fraud (Investment) Bill, and Committee stage of the necessary Money Resolution until 7.30 p.m. Afterwards there will be an opportunity for a debate upon the Motion standing on the Order Paper in the name of the Leader of the Opposition with regard to the refugee problem.

On any day, if there is time, other Orders will be taken.

Mr. Attlee

I should like to ask questions upon two points. First, on what Motion will the Debate on Palestine take place? Secondly, with regard to the Expiring Laws Continuance Bill, the Prime Minister will recollect that the inclusion of the Special Areas Act in that Bill has caused a good deal of trouble and discussion in this House owing to the impossibility of amending the Act, in spite of the desire of many hon. Members to widen its scope in regard to particular areas. Does he realise that the same difficulty will arise again if nothing is done with regard to the Special Areas except to continue the existing legislation under the Expiring Laws Continuance Bill?

The Prime Minister

With regard to the first point, the Government propose to take the Debate upon Palestine on the Motion for the Adjournment of the House. With regard to the second point, my right hon. Friend the Minister of Labour has stated that the Special Areas Act would be included in the Expiring Laws Continuance Bill, and, of course, there will be an opportunity for its discussion on the Committee stage, but my right hon. Friend hinted at the same time that further legislation on a similar subject was contemplated and that will, of course, come later.

Mr. Batey

When the Special Areas Act is included in the Expiring Laws Continuance Bill it precludes those of us from the Special Areas from bringing in Amendments, although we believe there is urgent need for Amendments. Will the Prime Minister refer to the Debate a few years ago, when his predecessor made the same mistake and there was an all-night Debate until six o'clock in the morning, and then he realised his mistake and took the Distressed Areas out of the Expiring Laws Continuance Bill and brought in a Bill? Would it be wise for the Prime Minister to repeat the mistake that his predecessor made in 1936?

The Prime Minister

I am much obliged to the hon. Member for his warning, but that matter was taken into consideration. We want to keep the present Act in existence by means of the Expiring Laws Continuance Bill, but that does not mean that it is the end of the matter. As I explained before, further legislation is contemplated and will give an opportunity for further discussion.

Mr. Batey

But that deals with an entirely different matter, and the Special Areas Act itself needs to be amended, and we have no chance of making Amendments when it is put into the Expiring Laws Continuance Bill, and I suggest that that is not fair. It is proposed to take the Second Reading on Tuesday night after another Bill has been considered. Does that mean that it may come on at Eleven o'clock on Tuesday night? If so, it means that we are going to be here all the next day.

The Prime Minister

I do not think it means that. The Second Reading of the Expiring Laws Continuance Bill is not the effective stage for the discussion of the Bill. The effective stage is in Committee. The Second Reading is not a stage for prolonged discussion.

Mr. Batey

Will the Prime Minister remember that two years ago the then Prime Minister said that we could not debate the Second Reading and that nevertheless there was a Debate which started at half-past Six and did not finish until Six o'clock next morning?

The Prime Minister

Yes, but there is a difference between the position to-day and that to which the hon. Member refers two years ago, when nothing further was expected or announced than the inclusion of the Bill in the Expiring Laws Continuance Bill. This time we are not doing that because we say that there is going to be other legislation.

Mr. Batey

I am sorry to have to press this matter, but the position in the Special Areas is an important matter. Are we to understand that the Prime Minister does not even intend to reconsider taking the Special Areas Act out of the Bill? If that is his intention, all right. He is asking for the fight; he will get it.

Captain Arthur Evans

Is the Prime Minister aware that if, until we have had an opportunity of considering the further legislation proposed by His Majesty's Government, he did take the Act out of the Bill, it would cause grave distress in the Special Areas and elsewhere?

The Prime Minister

Yes, Sir; that is the point that I was trying to put to the House.

Mr. Ede

Can the Prime Minister say whether he has made up his mind on what day we shall discuss the interim report of the Select Committee which has been inquiring into the application of the Official Secrets Acts?

The Prime Minister

No, Sir, not yet.

Mr. David Adams

Will the contemplated legislation on the Special Areas be submitted to the House this Session?

The Prime Minister

Certainly.