HC Deb 11 June 1942 vol 380 cc1249-51
Mr. Arthur Greenwood

May I ask the Lord Privy Seal whether he will state the forthcoming Business?

The Lord Privy Seal (Sir Stafford Gripps)

The forthcoming Business will be as follows:

First Sitting Day.—Supply (8th Allotted Day), Committee. Debate on Education.

Second Sitting Day.—Committee stage of a Supplementary Vote of Credit for War Expenditure, 1942. Afterwards there will be an opportunity for the Debate on the Motion relating to Old Age and Widows' Pensions.

Third Sitting Day.—Report and Third Reading of the War Damage (Amendment) Bill; Committee and remaining stages of the Post Office and Telegraph (Money) Bill; and Motion to approve the continuance in force of the Proclamation made under the Government of India Act relating to Assam.

Sir Percy Harris

When will there be an opportunity to deal with the Report of the Committee of Privileges?

Sir S. Cripps

I understand that on the third Sitting Day the Chairman of the Committee of Privileges will put down a Motion that the Report of the Committee be considered.

Mr. Greenwood

Will there not have to be a decision as to the actual procedure for the publication of the Report before that?

Sir S. Cripps

It is the Report on procedure. The Motion will be to consider that Report.

Miss Rathbone

Will the discussion be in Secret Session?

Sir S. Cripps

The Motion to consider the Report which is on the Paper now will be in Public Session.

Sir H. Morris-Jones

When the Motion or series of Motions in connection with the Report of the Committee of Privileges appears on the Paper, will an opportunity be given to the House on the third Sitting Day for a discussion of that procedure?

Sir S. Cripps

The procedure suggested by the Chairman of the Committee of Privileges is that he should put down a Motion that the Report which is now on the Paper be considered, and the House will have an opportunity of discussing the Report which is on the Paper. Subsequent to that, after the discussion in the House, I understand that the Chairman will put down a series of Motions to carry out the desires of the House as regards the whole matter.

Mr. Maxton

The problem of secrecy arises in only one of the two cases that are under review. Do I understand that the Report on the case of the hon. Member for Shettleston (Mr. McGovern), which has already been made public, will be available this week, and can we proceed to discuss it straight away and dispose of it?

Sir S. Cripps

I understand that the Report will be available on the first Sitting Day, and it will be for the Chairman of the Committee of Privileges to ask the House to consider it at an early date thereafter.

Mr. Buchanan

I take it that the case of the hon. Member for Shettleston will not involve such a lengthy procedure as the other case?

Mr. Rhys Davies

Has my right hon. Friend noticed on the Order Paper the Prayer asking for the annulment of the Regulation that school children should work on the land? Will there be an opportunity of discussing that?

Sir S. Cripps

I have seen that there is such a Motion on the Paper. It is exempted Business and can, therefore, be discussed at any time. I understand that the hon. Member who has put it down proposes to move it on the second Sitting Day, and the Departments concerned in the matter have been warned of that.

Sir H. Williams

When is it proposed to proceed with the Motion with regard to the examination of Members' passes?

Sir S. Cripps

It is proposed to proceed with it when there is time.

Sir H. Williams

What will happen if a Member takes no notice of the Motion if it is passed, because there is no penalty attached to it?

Sir S. Cripps

My hon. Friend had better wait until the Debate is resumed and make his observations then.