HC Deb 24 June 1943 vol 390 cc1319-22
Mr. Arthur Greenwood

May I ask the Leader of the House to state the Business for our next series of Sittings?

Mr. Eden

The Business will be as follows:

First Sitting Day.—We shall take the Report stage of the Finance Bill, and it will, I trust, be agreeable to the House to take the Third Reading immediately afterwards; Committee and remaining stages of the Foreign Service Bill; and, if there is time, Second Reading of the Emergency Powers (Isle of Man Defence) Bill.

Second Sitting Day.—Supply (11th Allotted Day); Committee. A Debate-will take place on Civil Defence and the National Fire Service.

Third Sitting Day.—Committee and remaining stages of the Pensions Appeal Tribunals Bill, and Second Reading of the Restriction of Ribbon Development (Temporary Development) Bill.

Sir I. Albery

Arising out of the Business for the first Sitting Day, does my right hon. Friend think that there will be sufficient time on that day to take the Report stage and Third Reading of the Finance Bill and also the Emergency Powers (Isle of Man Defence) Bill, against which there will probably be opposition?

Mr. Eden

We shall have to see. I rather hoped so. Perhaps the opposition will not materialise. One never knows.

Sir I. Albery

But I was endeavouring to warn my right hon. Friend that it will materialise.

Mr. Eden

I was endeavouring to look at it the other way.

Mr. Holdsworth

Is the right hon. Gentleman prepared to reconsider the answer he gave yesterday with regard to providing time for a discussion, not on electoral machinery, but on electoral reform?

Mr. Eden

There may be at some time an appropriate occasion, but I do not think that within 24 hours I can vary the answer which I gave yesterday.

Mr. Wedderburn

Can my right hon. Friend say whether an early day will be given for discussion of the Motion on the Order Paper on agriculture which is supported by hon. Members on all sides of the House?

[That in the opinion of the House a vigorous and efficient home agriculture, allied to constructive planning for international control of the marketing and distribution of the world's primary products is essential to the well-being of the nation; and that to this end the Government's policy should be directed to maintaining the fertility of the soil, the satisfying of the needs of nutrition, guaranteeing fair prices and a stable market to the producers and securing conditions for rural workers not less favourable, than those enjoyed by town dwellers.]

Mr. Eden

Yes, Sir, I think I said last week or the week before that it was our intention to give facilities for a Debate on agriculture.

Mr. Mander

Will the right hon. Gentleman bear in mind, in connection with the question of electoral re-distribution, that a great many other electoral problems interest the House? Cannot we discuss them altogether?

Mr. Eden

My right hon. Friend the Home Secretary has just dealt with one part of them, and I think we ought to have our first discussion on the Bill when it is introduced. With regard to the wider issue, we shall have to see whether arrangements can be made.

Mr. Brooke

May I ask whether the Government's new and important fire guard Order, referred to in Question 39; will be published in time for the Civil Defence Debate which is to take place during our next series of Sittings?

Mr. Eden

I shall have to look into that.

Mr. Godfrey Nicholson

Can my right hon. Friend say whether a little time will be given for discussion of a question which is causing a certain amount of uneasiness, namely, the arrangement made for the future of the V.A.D.?

Mr. Eden

I think it may be taken one day on the Adjournment, or at any rate on the Summer Adjournment, subject to Mr. Speaker's consent.

Mr. Nicholson

But is my right hon. Friend aware that practically every Adjournment up to the end of July is taken, and that if it is left to the Summer Adjournment it will be too late? It is not a matter of the widest importance, but it is causing uneasiness to a large number of people, and I think it right that the House should have an opportunity of discussing it.

Mr. Eden

I cannot promise that at the present stage of Business without a little more thought.

Mr. Nicholson

Then my right hon. Friend will reconsider it?

Mr. Eden indicated assent.

The Joint Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury (Mr. James Stuart)

I beg to move, "That this House, at its rising this Day, do adjourn until—next."

Sir H. Williams

May I ask why it is proposed to print the terms of that Motion in the publication which will be on sale to-morrow at the Stationery Office because, if so, why should we go on concealing the days on which we sit when anybody can buy a copy of the publication to-morrow morning?

Mr. Eden

The normal procedure will be adopted.

Question put, and agreed to.