HC Deb 09 November 1939 vol 353 cc420-2
Mr. Attlee

May I ask the Lord Privy Seal to state the business for next week?

Sir S. Hoare

The business will be:

Tuesday—Second Reading of the Chartered and Other Bodies (Temporary Provisions) Bill [Lords] and consideration of Lords Amendments to the Prices of Goods Bill. Questions affecting the Ministry of Shipping will be debated on the Adjournment.

Wednesday—Remaining stages of the National Loans Bill, the Chartered and Other Bodies (Temporary Provisions) Bill [Lords,]and of the Restriction of Advertisement (War Risks Insurance) Bill.

Thursday—The Adjournment of the House will be moved for a Debate on Education.

The House will not sit on Friday.

Miss Ward

May I ask my right hon. Friend whether he can make arrangements with the Opposition parties so that the Government's own supporters may occasionally share in putting down the subjects for discussion on the Adjournment? One appreciates that during peace time provision is made for the Opposition parties to draw the attention of the Government to matters which they want to raise, but in war time, when all the legislation is war-time legislation, I think the county would like to know that the Government's own supporters on occasion have the right to share in the subjects that are raised for debate.

Sir S. Hoare

I should have thought that the general wish of the House was to maintain the procedure as it is now. If at any time there were any general feeling of dissatisfaction, no doubt it could be conveyed to the Prime Minister through the usual channels.

Mr. Attlee

May I ask whether the Prime Minister will be making a statement on any day next week?

Sir S. Hoare

I have not any information at my disposal to enable me to say either "yes" or "no." I imagine that the Prime Minister will communicate with the right hon. Gentleman, but I have no reason to suppose that he will not make a statement if the situation requires it.

Miss Ward

With regard to my right hon. Friend's reply to me, it is not a question of dissatisfaction, but of accommodation with the good will of the other parties. There are matters of great interest, which are not politically controversial, about which the country wants to hear certain views and discussions, but there is never any opportunity by which the Government's own supporters can draw to the attention of the Government certain important subjects that should be discussed?

Sir S. Hoare

My hon. Friend is, I think, under a misapprehension. Any question can be raised on the Motion for the Adjournment.

Sir Archibald Sinclair

We all very much regret the absence of the Prime Minister and hope that he will be back in his place next week. Whether that be so or not, may I express the hope that the practice of making a weekly statement, subject to exceptions such as in the present case, will be maintained so that Parliament may be kept informed of the progress of the war?

Sir S. Hoare

I am sure my right hon. Friend will be obliged to the right hon. Gentleman for his personal reference. I will convey his observations to the Prime Minister and I have no reason to think that he will not comply with the suggestion.

Mr. Westwood

Can we have an assurance that when education is discussed next Thursday the right hon. Gentleman the Secretary of State for Scotland will be available, as there may be questions affecting Scottish education and administration which it may be desirable to raise.

Sir S. Hoare

I imagine, if that is so, that the Secretary of State for Scotland will certainly be present.

Mr. Lewis

May I ask whether opportunity cannot be given to Members to consider Bills before they come on for Second Reading? We have to-day the National Loans Bill before us, but it was circulated with the Votes only this morning. That is the first opportunity anybody has had of considering its provisions, and I would submit that, with a Bill of its importance and complexity, a longer opportunity should be given to Members to consider its terms before it is put down for Second Reading. I cannot see why so short a time was given in the case of this Bill.

Sir S. Hoare

I am sure it will be the general intention of all Ministers to give Members as long notice as they can, but we must remember that we are at war. Some of these Bills are urgent, and this particular Bill is a matter of great urgency.

Mr. Lewis

This Bill may be a matter or urgency, but it was obvious to the Chancellor of the Exchequer that he would have to bring it forward from the moment the war started. I do not see any reason why it should have been circulated only this morning when we have to discuss it this afternoon.

Mr. Herbert Morrison

Is it not the case that although these Bills may be urgent, the short time available between a Bill coming before the House and its discussion is due to the slow moving character of Ministers?

Resolved, That this House, at its rising this day, do adjourn till Tuesday next."—[Sir Samuel Hoare.]