HC Deb 09 December 1943 vol 395 cc1139-42
Mr. Pethick-Lawrence

May I ask the Deputy Prime Minister to state the Business for the next series of Sittings, and whether he has any statement to make with regard to the duration of the Recess?

Mr. Attlee

As regards Business during the next series of Sittings, the House will be asked to sit an additional day at the end of the series of Sittings. The Business will be as follows:

First Sitting Day.—The promised Debate on the War Situation and on Foreign Affairs will take place on the Motion for the Adjournment of the House; Second Reading of the Mining Industry (Welfare Fund) Bill [Lords].

Second Sitting Day.—Conclusion of the Debate on the War Situation and on Foreign Affairs; Motion to approve the Government of Burma Orders.

Third Sitting Day.—Committee and remaining stages of the Mining Industry (Welfare Fund) Bill [Lords]; Motion to approve the draft Electoral Registration Regulations. Afterwards there will be an opportunity for a Debate on Newfoundland.

Fourth Sitting Day.—The House will adjourn for the Christmas Recess until—

I might say on that the desire is to give the same Recess as last year, but we want to avoid Members having to travel in the rush time during Christmas.

Mr. Shinwell

Now that the Deputy Prime Minister has specified quite clearly and publicly when the House is to resume—the actual date we are to resume after the Christmas Recess—can we now abandon the farce of talking about the next Sitting Day?

Mr. Attlee

The Prime Minister dealt with this quite recently. I cannot add anything further. This information is not published.

Mr. Shinwell

Are we to understand that reference to the date of the resumption after the Christmas Recess does not appear in the OFFICIAL REPORT, that nothing is to be said about it? Is that the position?

Mr. Attlee

indicated assent.

Mr. Maxton

Am I to understand that the discussion on foreign affairs will conclude the Debate on the Address?

Mr. Attlee

We concluded the Debate on the Address yesterday.

Mr. Maxton

Am I to understand that the discussion will take place on an Adjournment Motion? [HON. MEMBERS: "The Deputy Prime Minister said so."] Will the Newfoundland discussion also take place on an Adjournment Motion?

Mr. Attlee

We are considering whether there should be a Motion on the Paper.

Mr. Maxton

Would the right hon. Gentleman consider whether it is not possible to put a Motion on the Paper with reference to foreign affairs? It can only be in the most general terms. In the last foreign affairs Debate, when the Foreign Secretary came back from the Moscow Conference, we were discussing the decisions, and the right hon. Gentleman the Member for South-West Bethnal Green (Sir P. Harris) said that the House endorsed the report of the Foreign Secretary. The House was not endorsing anything. Should not the Government on these rather important occasions take the trouble to put a positive Motion down?

Mr. Attlee

No, I think that that would defeat our whole intention in having this Debate on the Adjournment. My hon. Friend will remember that, owing to the absence of Ministers abroad, the foreign affairs aspect of the Debate on the Address was not considered. To put a Motion on the Paper now would be to narrow the opportunities of Members, who, as I said, can have the full time that they would have had in the Debate on the Address. It would, therefore, be a mistake to narrow the scope of the Debate.

Mr. Maxton

Will the right hon. Gentleman note that at the North African and Teheran Conferences big decisions on foreign affairs were made? A majority of the House would endorse the actions of the Prime Minister at those two Conferences, but are hon. Members not to have an opportunity of saying whether they approve or not? On the Adjournment there is no such opportunity.

Mr. Attlee

I have not said that the House is not to have such an opportunity; what I am doing is fulfilling the pledge I gave that there should be two days on which the whole range of questions relating to foreign affairs and the conduct of the war, normally taken on the Address, should be fully debated. It would be a breach of that undertaking to put down a Motion which would narrow the Debate.

Sir Hugh O'Neill

Will the Debate be initiated by a Minister or by private Members?

Mr. Attlee

I cannot answer that question off-hand. I will give the information as soon as possible.

Mr. Mander

Can we be told what the Business will be when the House re-assembles?

Mr. Attlee

Not yet.

Mr. Lipson

When is the Education Bill likely to be available?

Mr. Attlee

It will be taken soon after we re-assemble. The Bill will be published next week.

Sir John Wardlaw-Milne

Will my right hon. Friend reconsider the matter which has been raised by the hon. Member for Bridgeton (Mr. Maxton)? Is it not in the interests of the Government that they should put down a Motion which would give a very wide scope for discussion on foreign affairs, and which would give the House an opportunity of approving the policy of the Government at these Conferences?

Mr. Shinwell

If the Government were to put down a Motion endorsing all that occurred at the Teheran and North African Conferences, would they not be compelled to disclose details, including their future intentions, and would not that be exceedingly difficult? Could we not in fact, if we are dissatisfied with the Government's statement in the war Debate, vote against the Government on the Adjournment Motion?

Mr. Tinker

Might I suggest that my right hon. Friend should put down a Motion, and let the Government show their confidence or otherwise in what has happened? We ought to have the opinion of the House, definitely and clearly expressed. The Government have nothing to fear on this matter.

Mr. Gallacher

Is it not possible to get an opportunity before the Recess for a short discussion on the very bad situation that exists in regard to many matters, particularly health in Scotland, and the possibility of reviving the sittings of the Scottish Grand Committee, to deal with some of these problems during the Recess?

Mr. Attlee

If the hon. Member is fortunate enough to attract the attention of the Chair, there will be an opportunity on the fourth Sitting Day, on the Motion for the Adjournment. With regard to the point put by my hon. Friend the Member for Kidderminster (Sir J. Wardlaw-Milne), I still think there is a danger that such a Motion might unduly restrict the House. I think it is perfectly possible to express support or dissent and if necessary there can be a vote against the Adjournment.

Mr. Keeling

Is it not a fact that Mr. Neville Chamberlain resigned because of the smallness of his majority on an Adjournment Motion? Is it not equally possible for this House to show its disapproval of the Government's foreign policy on an Adjournment Motion?

Mr. Gallacher

Why should the welfare of Scotland be left to the chance of my catching the Speaker's eye when the Speaker may not be sympathetic towards me?