45. Mr. De la Bèreasked the Prime Minister whether he will find time for a Debate on the Motion standing in the name of the hon. Member for Evesham, relating to Orders in Council?
§ [That this House notes the many thousands of Orders in Council which have 29 been issued since the commencement of hostilities; that many of them are so framed as to be difficult of comprehension, both to those who are administering them and those who must observe them; is of opinion that, in view of the importance of the proper direction of manpower, there is a loss of efficiency directly attributable to these Orders, which add to the burden already placed on the overstrained businesses throughout the country, and urges on the Government the necessity for curtailing the number of these Orders in Council and inquiring into those which are already issued with a view to the more wasteful and harmful Orders being rescinded.]
§ The Prime Minister (Mr. Churchill)I regret that in the present state of Business I cannot hold out any hope of being able to afford time for a discussion of my hon. Friend's Motion.
Mr. De la BèreDoes not my right hon. Friend realise that a number of these Orders are redundant, and would it be possible to have a periodical review of the Orders with a view to seeing that redundant ones were rescinded and the unnecessary ones amended and put in order?
§ The Prime MinisterYes, Sir, I hope that that process is continuous, but at any rate my hon. Friend's remarks will call further attention to it.
§ Mr. GallacherWould the Prime Minister consider handing over the Hydro-Electric Power Bill to the Scottish Grand Committee and thereby relieve this House of a lot of work?