§ Mr. Arthur GreenwoodMay I ask the Prime Minister whether he will state the Business of the House for the next Sitting Day and for the next series of Sittings?
§ The Prime MinisterOn the next Sitting Day, the Report and Third Reading of the Parliament (Elections and Meeting) Bill will be taken as second Order, following the Workmen's Compensation Bill. Afterwards, if there is time, we shall take the Committee and remaining stages of the Price Control Bill [Lords].
The Business for the next series of Sittings will be as follows:
First Sitting Day.—Report stage of the Supplementary Vote of Credit. Motions to approve the Fish Sales (Charges) (No. 3) Order, and the Potatoes (1943 Crop) (Charges) Order—[An HON. MEMBER: "Fish and Chips."]—a happy companionship.
Second Sitting Day.—We shall ask the House to pass a special Consolidated Fund Bill for the Vote of Credit through all its stages. An opportunity would occur on that for a statement or Debate on general matters of war and policy if it were convenient or desired, but I do not wish to commit myself to that at the present time. Motion to approve the Purchase Tax (Alteration of Rates) (No. 2) Order.
Third Sitting Day.—The Motion for the Adjournment of the House will be proposed.
I shall shortly ask the House to go into Secret Session to enable me to make a brief statement on further arangements.
§ Sir Percy HarrisCan the Prime Minister say whether the Foreign Secretary will be back and able to make a statement during the next series of Sittings on the result of the agreements in Moscow?
§ The Prime MinisterNo, Sir, that is just what I cannot say.
§ Sir H. WilliamsHas the Prime Minister any statement to make about further proceedings on the Parliament (Elections and Meeting) Bill?
§ The Prime MinisterI have just made it. It will be taken as the second Order on the next Sitting Day.
§ Mr. StokesMay I ask the Prime Minister about the United Nations Reconstruction Committee? In view of the 867 fact that preliminary proposals were in the hands of the Treasury as long ago as last April and that the final proposals have been in the hands of the Chancellor for nearly a month, when will a statement be made to the House and an opportunity be given for a Debate?
§ The Prime MinisterI am afraid that I am not able to throw any further light on the matter at the moment. [Interruption.] A Motion is on the Paper to secure another hour for the Debate on India.
Dr. Russell ThomasOn a point of Order. May I, Mr. Speaker, as a junior Member of the House, ask for your guidance in regard to Business to-day? There is a Vote of Credit of some considerable magnitude to be discussed. There is also a Debate, on the critical condition in India which we are all anxious to hear. May I have some assurance as far as possible that if I and my hon. Friends associated with me forgo our rights in regard to the Vote of Credit we shall have every opportunity of discussing that matter, if we think fit, on the Report stage of the Vote? May I also suggest that possibly it might be intimated to the usual channels that such a congestion of public Business makes it very embarrassing indeed for humble Members of the House like myself?
§ The Prime MinisterThat does not seem to me to be a point of Order in any way. It is a question of Business. I hope that the hon. Gentleman will not ask the Government to enter into any commitments for the future in respect of time given for the discussion of various matters in consideration of any forbearance he may show in respect of the matter to-day.