HC Deb 31 January 1939 vol 343 cc23-5
46. Mr. David Adams

asked the Prime Minister whether, in view of the uncer- tainty as to what is constituted in the term "the public interest," appearing in the Adjournment Notice of Motion moved by him on 22nd December, 1938, he will assure the House that a clearer explanation of what is meant by this phrase will be inserted in such Motions in future?

[That this House, at its rising this day, do adjourn till Tuesday, 31st January; provided that if it is represented to Mr. Speaker by His Majesty's Government that the public interest requires that the House should meet at any earlier time during the Adjournment, and Mr. Speaker is satisfied that the public interest does so require, he may give notice that he is so satisfied, and thereupon the House shall meet at the time stated in such notice and the Government Business to be transacted on the day on which the House shall so meet shall, subject to the publication of notice thereof in the Order Paper to be circulated on the day on which the House shall so meet, be such as the Government may appoint, but subject as aforesaid the House shall transact its business as if it had been duly adjourned to the day on which it shall so meet, and any Government Orders of the Day and Government Notices of Motions that may stand on the Order Book for the 31st day of January or any subsequent day shall be appointed for the day on which the House shall so meet; provided also that in the event of Mr. Speaker being unable to act owing to illness or other cause, the Chairman of Ways and Means, in his capacity as Deputy Speaker, be authorised to act in his stead for the purposes of this Resolution.]

The Prime Minister (Mr. Chamberlain)

I do not consider that it is possible to devise a clearer explanation than that contained in the Adjournment Motion in its customary form. The question whether the public interest requires an earlier meeting of the House must always be a matter of judgment and be governed by the circumstances of the particular case. It would be impossible in my view for the responsibility for making a recommendation to you, Sir, to be laid on anyone but the Government, on whom it has always been laid by the House and by whom it has always been and must always be accepted. I, therefore, do not consider that any alteration of the terms of the Motion to which the hon. Member refers is necessary.

Mr. Adams

Does the Prime Minister reserve the right, as in the case of the Czechoslovakian crisis, to ignore the public interest—

Mr. Speaker

The hon. Member must not make insinuations of that kind against Ministers.

Mr. Adams

I certainly withdraw anything which was not strictly in order, Sir, and I should like to conclude my question by asking whether the Prime Minister would thereby ignore the rights of this House?

Mr. Macquisten

Is the Prime Minister not aware that there are few Members who do not understand the meaning of "public interest"?

Mr. Mander

May we have an assurance that the public interest is, at any rate, not necessarily the same thing as the Government's interest?

Mr. Adams

In view of the unsatisfactory nature of the answer, I beg to give notice that I shall raise this matter at the earliest possible moment.