§ Mr. SpeakerMr. Lees-Smith.
§ Mr. Lees-Smithrose—
§ Sir H. WilliamsI understand that you are calling upon the right hon. Gentleman to ask a question about business? Before the right hon. Gentleman puts that question I should like to ask whether you are prepared to make any statement on whom will fall this responsibility and also whether you propose to make any statement with regard to the seating of parties in the House?
§ Mr. SpeakerI am making a statement on that matter later.
§ Sir H. WilliamsI take it that you called upon the right hon. Gentleman to ask a question about business? May I ask in accordance with what arrangements the right hon. Gentleman is called upon to put that question?
§ Sir P. HarrisIs there not a precedent in the last war, when the senior Privy Councillor on the Front Bench, when there was a similar position, always asked the question about business?
§ Mr. SpeakerI think that is the case.
§ Mr. ThorneAre you aware that we have no Opposition?
§ Mr. N. MacleanHas it not been intimated in the Press that the Conservative party is keeping its machinery intact and its official office going? Is there any reason, therefore, why the Labour Opposition should not do a similar thing and carry on?
§ Mr. SpeakerThat is not a question for me.
§ Mr. StephenMay I draw your attention to the fact that there is no precedent in the last war, because there was no Opposition in the House in the last war? In this case there is a distinct and organised Opposition.
§ Mr. SpeakerI was in the House in the last war and seem to remember some Opposition.
§ Mr. MaxtonMy hon. Friend's point is that while there were Opposition Members in this House in the last war, as no doubt there are at the present time in several parts of the House, there was no distinct and separately organised Opposition to the Government in the House and in the country. On this occasion there is such an Opposition. [HON. MEMBERS: "Where?"] Here.
§ Mr. SpeakerI am quite willing to give a Ruling on the question of precedent if a Question is put to me.
§ Mr. W. A. RobinsonThis is the three card trick.
§ Sir William DavisonIs it not desirable that the House in these serious days should realise what the policy of the Government is before raising all these frivolous questions; and that if there is an opposition to the policy of the Government someone should be appointed to raise the questions?
§ Mr. Lees-SmithMay I ask the Prime Minister whether he has any statement to make about the Business of the House to-morrow?
§ The Prime Ministerrose—
§ Sir H. WilliamsBefore the Prime Minister replies, may I put a point to you, Mr. Speaker? I raised a point of Order as to what person was authorised to ask questions on Business, and as a sequel the hon. Baronet the Member for South-West Bethnal Green (Sir P. Harris) pointed out that in the last war the senior Privy Councillor performed those functions in time of difficulty; and the senior Privy Councillor is not now asking the question. May I ask for your Ruling on this matter?
§ Mr. SpeakerThe hon. Member must remember that we are working in what are certainly novel conditions, and it takes a certain amount of time to make arrangements. I would ask the hon. Member not to be so precipitate.
§ The Prime MinisterWith regard to the Business of the House, to-morrow, as already announced, we shall take the Second Reading of the Treachery Bill. I think it is desirable that we should ask the House not only to take the Second Reading, but the Committee and remaining stages so that the Bill may become law as early as possible. It will also be necessary, in connection with the formation of the Local Defence Volunteer Force, to have a small Bill to amend the National Service (Armed Forces) Act. We shall ask leave to bring in this Bill to-morrow, and, in view of its urgency, we desire to pass it through all its stages on the same day. The text of the Bill will be made available to hon. Members as soon as the House meets to-morrow.