§ Mr. AttleeCan the Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury say for what purpose it is proposed to move the suspension of the Four o'Clock Rule to-day?
§ The Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury (Captain Margesson)The Report stage of Ways and Means Resolutions are exempted business, but the rule with regard to exempted business does not apply on Fridays. Consequently it is necessary for a Motion to suspend the Four o'Clock Rule. This step is only taken as a precaution. I do not think that there will be any difficulty in our obtaining the Report stage of the Budget Resolutions to-day before Four o'clock. Afterwards, the Finance Bill will be brought 1616 in. Arrangements have been made for copies of the Bill to be in Members' hands as soon as the Reports have been agreed to and, as the Prime Minister announced yesterday, the Second Reading of the Finance Bill will be taken on Monday.
§
Ordered,
That the Proceedings of the Report of Ways and Means of 27th and 28th September be not interrupted this day at Four or half-past Four of the Clock, and may be entered upon at any hour although opposed." — [Captain Margesson.']