HC Deb 16 June 1942 vol 380 cc1384-6
Mr. Greenwood

Will the Leader of the House state whether the Report of the Committee of Privileges on my hon. Friend the Member for Shettleston (Mr. McGovern) is now available, and when it is contemplated, to provide time for its discussion?

The Lord Privy Seal (Sir Stafford Cripps)

The Report from the Committee of Privileges on the case of the hon. Member for Shettleston (Mr. McGovern) is available in the Vote Office to-day. It will no doubt be convenient to the House to consider this Report on the third Sitting Day, after we have considered the Special Report from the Committee of Privileges which relates to another matter. I may add, as regard the Business on the third Sitting Day, that in addition to the Business already announced we shall ask the House to agree to the Report stage of the Supplementary Vote of Credit and the Ways and Means Resolution. It will be necessary for a special Consolidated Fund Bill to give the legal authority for the issue of the money to be passed early in the next series of Sittings.

Mr. Maxton

I think there is something wrong with the right hon. Gentleman's grammar. He said the Report on the hon. Member for Shettleston (Mr. McGovern) would be taken on the third Sitting Day after we had discussed the Special Report. Does that mean on that day or after the third Sitting Day?

Sir S. Cripps

On the third Sitting Day, after we have discussed the Special Report.

Sir Henry Morris-Jones

Will the Special Report of the Committee of Privileges which is to be discussed on the third Sitting Day be discussed in Secret Session or open Session?

Sir S. Cripps

I understand the Special Report will be discussed in open Session.

Sir H. Morris-Jones

May I put this point, that the Report deals with matters which occurred in Secret Session, and it may be that Members will want to make reference to matters which could not be made in Public Session. Is it not desirable, in view of the fact that the whole case has been treated in secret, that it should continue to be treated in secret?

Sir S. Cripps

That is the object, I understand, of the procedure which the House is to discuss. If the House decides that it wishes the matter to be treated in Secret Session, it will then pass the necessary Resolution to enable that to be done.

Mr. Garro Jones

May I ask, if this Motion should go to a Vote, whether, having regard to the fact that it affects the House in its official capacity, Members will be free to vote without the intervention of the Government Whips?

Sir S. Cripps

It is not proposed by the Government that anybody should be asked to vote in any special way, but that it should be left to a free vote of the House to decide upon its own procedure.