HC Deb 16 May 1939 vol 347 cc1193-4
Mr. Attlee

May I ask the Prime Minister when it is proposed to consider the Supplementary Estimates for the reserves of merchant ships and of agricultural machinery?

The Prime Minister

The House will appreciate the urgency of proceeding with the arrangements for the building up of a reserve of Merchant Ships and for establishing a reserve of Tractors and other Agricultural Machinery. Legislative authority will be required, and the Bills will be presented in due course. In the meantime, we propose to ask Parliament to give the necessary authority before commitments are entered into or expenditure incurred. The Supplementary Estimates were circulated to Members this morning, and it is essential to obtain the Committee and Report Stages before the House adjourns for Whitsun. I hope that it will be possible to close the Debate on the Pay and Allowances for the Militia at a reasonable hour to-morrow, so that we can then consider the Supplementary Estimates for Merchant Ships and Agricultural Machinery.

Mr. Attlee

The Prime Minister will realise that very great pressure is being put upon the House at this time, and as far as we are concerned it is impossible to say when the Debate on the pay and allowances to the militia to-morrow will end. It will all depend upon the attitude of His Majesty's Government. If the necessary concessions are forthcoming, no doubt it will not take us long. We recognise that these Supplementary Estimates deal with urgent matters to which we are not opposed in principle, but if these are to be taken at such an hour as has been suggested, can we be assured that there will be a better opportunity of discussing the subsequent Bills? This matter involves very large expenditure, and it is vital that we should consider very carefully the conditions that are to be laid down.

The Prime Minister

I fully recognise the truth of what the right hon. Gentleman says, namely, that the House is under very considerable pressure at the present time, but he himself will recognise the urgency of these matters. There will, of course, be opportunity later when legislation is introduced to consider further the details of the proposals, and I can assure the right hon. Gentleman that full opportunity will be given then.

Sir P. Harris

Have the Government considered, if this vast expenditure is to be pushed through without adequate discussion, the importance of control over the expenditure as a check against waste? Would he consider the possibility of appointing a committee similar to that which was appointed during the War in 1917 to control expenditure?

The Prime Minister

I cannot answer a question of that kind without notice.

Mr. Benn

The Estimate for these conscripts is £100, and has not the Chancellor of the Exchequer formed some estimate of the real cost of the expenditure on this matter?

Sir Waldron Smithers

Work it out.