BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE. (Hansard, 15 February 1940)

§ Mr. Attlee
Will the Prime Minister state the business for next week, and also for to-day?

§ The Prime Minister
Yes, Sir. For next week the business will be: Tuesday and Wednesday: Second Reading of the Old Age and Widows' Pensions Bill, and Committee stage of the necessary Money Resolution.
Thursday: Committee stage of Supplementary Estimates, beginning with Ministry of Labour and National Service; Dominions Office, and Colonial and Middle Eastern Services. Report and Third Reading of the Agriculture (Miscellaneous War Provisions) Bill.
The House will not sit on Friday.
During the week we hope that there will be an opportunity to take the remaining stages of the Rating and Valuation Bill and to consider the Mental Deficiency (Scotland) Bill which has come down from another place.
On to-day's business, we desire to get the Committee stage of the Agriculture (Miscellaneous War Provisions) Bill, to pass the Motion to approve the Governor-General's Proclamation of Emergency under the Government of India Act, to consider the India and Burma Orders, and to obtain the Second Reading of the Rating and Valuation Bill. The Agriculture Bill is being taken as the first Order, followed by the other business, in accordance with the agreement made 963 across the Floor of the House last night by my right hon. and gallant Friend the Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury. We also hope that there will be an opportunity to-night to take the Report stage of the Supplementary Estimates which were considered in Committee on 7th February.

§ Mr. T. Williams
If on Thursday next the Supplementary Estimates take a considerable time, will the right hon. Gentleman not bring on the Agriculture Bill for Report and Third Reading at a late hour?

§ The Prime Minister
We will try to meet the convenience of the House on that point. I think I can give that assurance.

§ Mr. Batey
I think I understood the right hon. Gentleman to say that next Tuesday and Wednesday the Committee stage of the Money Resolution on the Old Age Pensions Bill, as well as the Second Reading would be taken. May I direct his attention to paragraph (b) of the Money Resolution, which definitely fixes the means test upon the old people? If we pass that in the Money Resolution, it means that we shall be debarred from raising that matter on the Committee stage of the Bill.

The Prime Ministers
The hon. Member must remember that two days are given for the Second Reading of the Bill, on which that question can be debated.

§ Mr. Batey
Yes, but after the Debate takes place on the two days the Prime Minister's proposal is to take the Money Resolution, which definitely fixes the means test on the old people and if we agree to that next Wednesday night, we cannot discuss it on the Committee stage.

§ Mr. Buchanan
On that point, may I ask the Prime Minister—

§ Mr. Speaker
Is the hon. Member raising a point of Order?

§ Mr. Buchanan
No, Sir. It is on the question of business. Will the Prime Minister consider extending the time for the Committee stage? As he is aware, on this Bill there is a great number of general issues, but the main issue will be the question of a means test on old age pensions. As this Money Resolution deals with that point, and that point alone, and once passed it cannot be afterwards amended, will the right hon. Gentleman 964 not consider, seeing that it raises a fundamental issue, extending the time that will be given for the discussion of the Financial Resolution?

§ The Prime Minister
It is a question of dividing up the time allotted for the Bill, and that is a matter for discussion.

§ Mr. Gallacher
Will it be possible to put down an Amendment against a means test once the Money Resolution is passed?

§ Mr. A. Bevan
Does the right hon. Gentleman intend to take the Committee stage of the Money Resolution at a late hour on Tuesday night?

§ The Prime Minister
It all depends on how the discussion goes. Those two days are allotted for the purposes which I have stated.

§ Mr. Bevan
Does the right hon. Gentleman not realise that this is a very important matter, that there will be a desire in all parts of the House to speak on the Second Reading of the Bill, and, therefore, that it is highly improbable that we shall be able to reach the Money Resolution till a late hour? Will he give an assurance that if it is a late hour, he will consider giving further time?

§ Mr. Batey
On a point of Order. It was decided some time ago by a Committee which sat on the question of Money Resolutions that nothing should be put in a Money Resolution that would curtail debate. Here we are having the very thing done which that Committee recommended should not be done. What can we do in order to prevent this happening with this Money Resolution?

§ Mr. Speaker
I do not think that question arises. The Money Resolution is no different from any other Money Resolution, and the only Amendments that will be in order will be those that do not go outside the Money Resolution.

§ Mr. Bevan
Further to that point of Order. Here is a case in which a very important and fundamental departure in principle is embodied in a Money Resolution, and if that Resolution be carried, we shall be forbidden to discuss that question, which touches over 50 per cent. of the Bill. Is it not undesirable to embody in a Money Resolution a principle of the Bill and thereby debar us from effective 965 discussion of it on the Committee stage of the Bill? Was it not in order to prevent principles of that kind being embodied in a Money Resolution, and the House being debarred thereby from discussing them, that we had the Committee which has been mentioned appointed some time ago. Further, may I respectfully submit that if this is done on an important occasion, a very great deal of friction in the House may arise, if it is felt that the desires of the Opposition are being thwarted by placing in the Money Resolution principles which ought to be discussed on the Committee stage of the Bill?

§ Mr. Speaker
If the hon. Member will give me notice of that question, I will give a considered Ruling on it.

§ Mr. Kirkwood
Shall I be in order in putting down an Amendment against the means test on the Committee stage of the Bill?

§ Mr. Speaker
That is not a question for me to answer.