§ Mr. AttleeMight I ask the Prime Minister the business for next week, and whether the House may expect an early statement on the subject of war pensions and dependants' allowances?
§ The Prime MinisterThe business will be:
Tuesday—All stages of the Cotton Industry (Reorganisation) (Postponement) Bill, which is expected to be received from another place to-day; Report and Third Reading of the Prices of Goods Bill; Consideration of the Motion with regard to the Defence Regulations.
§ Wednesday—Consideration of the Opposition Motion with regard to Old Age Pensions.
§ Thursday—Statement on Motion for the Adjournment of the House, and Debate on Civil Defence and Evacuation.
§ The House will not meet on Friday.
§ A new order of questions for Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays has been drawn up, and agreed to through the usual channels. The list will be circulated to Members with the Votes and Proceedings, and will operate as from next Tuesday. The House will, I know, realise the difficulties which must arise in any attempt to rearrange the order 1575 of questions. I venture to hope that hon. Members in all parts of the House will co-operate to ensure the successful working of the rearrangement. If an effort could be made to get through 90 to 100 questions each day, I think the new plan would work to everyone's satisfaction.
§ There is one suggestion that I would like to make concerning questions for Written Answer. I think that it would relieve congestion if hon. Members would consider putting some of their questions down for written reply, but giving a definite period of notice as is required for Oral Questions. I would then propose to ask Ministers to do everything possible to ensure that answers to such questions are circulated on the day for which they are put down. The House will, however, appreciate that in certain cases where information has to be collected, delay in giving a full reply is unavoidable.
§ We are working under unusual conditions, and I would once again remind hon. Members that the preparation of the replies to questions already imposes a heavy burden upon the staffs of Departments.
§ Mr. AttleeCan the Prime Minister state more clearly when we may get the statement with regard to war pensions and dependants' allowances? I understand that the matter is under consideration; is it to be a question of days or weeks?
§ The Prime MinisterI hope it will be a question of days, but whether these days will run into more than one week or not I would not like to say.
§ Sir P. HannonArising out of the reply of the Prime Minister relating to questions, would it be possible to come to some understanding in the House that supplementary questions should be limited to one question, so that a greater number of questions could be answered?
§ Mr. Dingle FootIs it not the fact that the right to ask supplementary questions is the most valuable weapon that the private Member has in questioning Ministers; and would it not be unfortunate for Members of this House if there were to be any such limitation of the right to put supplementary questions?
§ Mr. SpeakerI think I have answered this question before. I must leave the question of supplementaries to the good sense of the House, in the hope that hon. Members will assist me in seeing that the privilege is not abused.
§
Resolved,
That this House, at its rising this day, do adjourn till Tuesday next."—[The Prime Minister.]