§ Mr. GreenwoodMay I ask the Leader of the House whether he has any statement to make about the course of Business during the present series of Sittings, and also with reference to the Easter Recess?
§ The Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs (Mr. Eden)My right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer referred yesterday to the National Loans Bill, which, on grounds of urgency, it is necessary to pass through all its stages during the present series of Sittings.
We hope that the House will agree to the Committee stage of the Ways and Means Resolution at the end of to-day's proceedings. The Report stage will be taken on the next Sitting Day, and we shall ask the House to agree to pass the National Loans Bill through all its stages on the fourth Sitting Day, after the Debate on Colonial Administration in the West Indies and before the Second Readings of the two Bills which have already been announced.
As to the Easter Recess, it may be for the convenience of hon. Members if I inform the House that the Government propose to adjourn for the Easter Recess on the third Sitting Day in the next series of Sittings until the first Sitting Day after 2nd May.
§ Mr. StokesAre we to understand that the Budget Debate is to be curtailed? We were told that we were to have two days given to it—to-day and the next Sitting Day.
§ Mr. EdenMy hon. Friend may be reassured that there is no intention of curtailing the Budget Debate. The suggestion is that this Bill should be taken on the fourth Sitting Day—the day allotted for the Colonial Debate, after that Debate has been disposed of.