HC Deb 06 May 1943 vol 389 cc312-6
Mr. Arthur Greenwood

May I ask the Leader of the House to make a statement on the Business for the next series of Sitting Days?

The Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs (Mr. Eden)

The Business will be as follows:

First Sitting Day—Second Reading of the Town and Country Planning (Interim Development) Bill. If there is time, further progress will be made with the War Damage Bill [Lords].

Second Sitting Day—Supply (6th Allotted Day): Committee. A Debate on the proposals for an International Clearing Union will take place on the Treasury Vote.

Third Sitting Day—Supply (7th Allotted Day): Committee. The Ministry of Food Vote will be considered.

Mr. Greenwood

Now that the British members of the Bermuda Conference are back, may the House be assured that the Government will give urgent consideration to their Report with a view to a Debate at the earliest opportunity?

Mr. Eden

Yes, Sir. The Report, as a matter of fact, has already been considered by the Government, and some of the conclusions are being put into effect now. It is contemplated that we should have a Debate early in the series of Sittings after the next series. We cannot very well have it in the next series of Sittings, because it is necessary to agree what can be said and how much can be said without risk to the work which has been done, and that has to be agreed with the United States beforehand.

Mr. Stephen

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware of the great dissatisfaction there is with regard to the delay in bringing forward the Bill in connection with old age pensions, and will be give us some indication when the Bill will be brought forward?

Mr. Eden

I do not know about the dissatisfaction, but I can tell the hon. Gentleman that the Bill will be available within the next few days.

Sir I. Fraser

May I ask my right hon. Friend whether the Government propose to give a day soon to discuss the Motion calling for a Select Committee on war pensions, which stands in my name and the names of 100 Members of all parties?

Mr. Eden

The Prime Minister did deal with that question in answer to my hon. and gallant Friend a short time ago, and, quite apart from the reason that my right hon. Friend then adduced, the Government feel doubtful whether this is the moment when, with advantage, such a Select Committee could be set up. However, if the House wants a discussion on this matter, it can be discussed through the normal channels, and it may be possible without taking another Government day to arrange for a Supply day for such a Debate.

Mr. Rhys Davies

When we discuss the Food Ministry Vote will it be possible to raise problems connected with the retail distribution of food?

Mr. Eden

Yes, Sir, and, I understand, even the distribution of fish.

Mr. Edmund Harvey

In connection with the Debate on the Bermuda Conference, will the right hon. Gentleman assure us that we shall have a White Paper or a statement in ample time before the discussion takes place?

Mr. Eden

No, Sir, what I contemplated was that a Government representative, one of the Ministers who has been to the Conference, should open the discussion and tell the House as much as can be told without prejudice to that part of the arrangements which must remain secret.

Mr. Silverman

Would it not be of great advantage if the House had an opportunity, before the Debate, of considering such information as the Government, in consultation with other Powers, are prepared to make known?

Mr. Eden

I think it will be more useful for the Minister to make his statement in the Debate. That is the usual procedure.

Sir Alfred Beit

Would it be possible on the second Sitting Day of our next series to discuss American currency plans as well as British?

Mr. Eden

Yes, Sir. That is certainly intended.

Mr. Silverman

Does not the right hon. Gentleman realise that if the House is called upon to discuss the Government statement about the Bermuda Conference immediately after the Minister has made his statement, tile House will not be in a position to give the matter the careful consideration it ought to have?

Mr. Eden

I do not think the position is as difficult as the hon. Gentleman believes. The broad elements of the problem are well known to Members in all parts of the House. I hope my right hon. Friend, when he speaks, will deal with certain practical proposals the Government have in mind, and the House can then comment upon them. That is the normal procedure.

Sir I. Fraser

Is my right hon. Friend aware that many of us want to co-operate with him with regard to the time of the House and support for the Government, but that if pensions are to be debated on a Supply day and if material concessions are not in the Government's mind, he will not, in fact, save any Parliamentary time because we shall feel compelled to ask again for a day for a Debate on a Select Committee?

Mr. Eden

My hon. and gallant Friend will understand that it not infrequently happens that hon. Members are not satisfied and ask for another day. All I would like to say at the moment is that I will consider the representations my hon. and gallant Friend has made and that if he will repeat his Question on the third day of our next series of Sittings, I may then be able to give him a considered reply.

Miss Rathbone

With regard to the Bermuda Conference, do we understand that the Debate will not take place on a Motion? The right hon. Gentleman has said that the discussion will be opened by one of the delegates to the Conference.

Mr. Eden

It is the intention that the discussion shall be as wide as possible.

Miss Rathbone

But will it be on a notice of Motion?

Mr. Eden

So far as I am aware, there is no notice of Motion in existence.

Mr. Stokes

Do the Government propose to make any statement shortly about electoral reform, particularly with regard to by-elections in war-time? Recently the Prime Minister said that it was hoped the Home Secretary would be able to make such a statement before Easter.

Mr. Eden

My right hon. Friend the Home Secretary is not in a position to make a statement now, but he hopes shortly to do so.

Mr. Gallacher

As regards the Old Age Pensions Bill, will the Government make certain that there is an increase in the flat rate?

Mr. Eden

I think the hon. Gentleman has sufficient experience never to wish to anticipate any good thing that is coming.

Mr. Ridley

Would the right hon. Gentleman consider a little further the suggestion made to him by my hon. Friend the Member for Nelson and Colne (Mr. Silverman)? Is he aware of the deep feeling in the House on this matter and that many Members are anxious to have an opportunity of examining most carefully the proposals of the Government before the Debate?

Mr. Eden

I do not think that would be a good arrangement; it would probably mean further delay because documents to be laid would have to pass across the Atlantic and so on. I think the broad aspects of the problem are known, and I think it is much more satisfactory to pursue the normal practice, which is that when a Minister has returned from a conference he should tell the House about it.

Miss Rathbone

Does the right hon. Gentleman mean that the notice of Motion signed by 277 Members, who understood that a Debate would, take place on that Motion, will not now be debated? The Motion can, of course, be repeated, but we hoped that it would be in the mind of the Government.

[That, in view of the massacres and starvation of Jews and others in enemy and enemy-occupied countries, this House desires to assure His Majesty's Government of its fullest support for immediate measures, on the largest and mast generous scale compatible with the requirements of military operations and security, for providing help and temporary asylum to persons in danger of massacre who are able to leave enemy and enemy-occupied countries.]

Mr. Eden

I was contemplating an arrangement to enable a wide discussion of the subject; I was not contemplating discussion of that Motion.