HC Deb 12 October 1944 vol 403 cc1941-4
Mr. Arthur Greenwood

May I ask the Deputy Prime Minister what will be the Business for next week?

Mr. Attlee

The Business for next week will he as follows:

Tuesday, 17th October—Debate on Welsh Affairs on the Motion for the Adjournment of the House. Afterwards there will be a Motion to approve the Cold Storage (Control of Undertakings) (Charges) Amendment Order.

Wednesday and Thursday, 18th and 19th October—Report and Third Reading of the Town and Country Planning Bill.

Friday, 20th October—Committee stage of a Supplementary Vote of Credit for War Expenditure, Second Reading of the Matrimonial Causes (War Marriages) Bill, which is expected to be received from another place, Committee and remaining stages of the Diplomatic Privileges (Extension) Bill [Lords], Motion for a humble Address relating to the Aden Colony (Amendment) Order.

Mr. Greenwood

With regard to the Business for Wednesday and Thursday, as the Government have stated that the compensation Clauses of the Bill are now under consideration and discussions have taken and are to take place between representatives of the various parties and my right hon. Friend, what arrangements are to be made to inform the House of the Government's conclusions in advance of the resumption of the Debate?

Mr. Attlee

We will endeavour to get the Amendments on the Paper as soon as we can, though I doubt whether we shall be able to do so much before Tuesday. I will consider whether anything else can be done.

Mr. Greenwood

If the Amendments are not on the Paper until Tuesday it is rather hard on Members. Could not some arrangement be made whereby the House will be informed of the conclusions of the Government, or the principles on which they are going to amend the Clauses which have been under discussion?

Mr. Attlee

I will consider that. I recognise the difficulty. The trouble is that the question is complicated and its translation into legislation is an extremely complicated matter for the draftsmen, who are rather hard driven. But I will consider it, in consultation with others, to see whether we cannot satisfy the House.

Mr. Greenwood

I am not asking for details, but I think the House ought to be informed of the broad proposals that the Government mean to submit.

Sir Percy Harris

With regard to Friday's Business, is a Debate anticipated? If so, will any particular subject be dealt with? We do not want to have a subject sprung on the Committee without warning.

Mr. Attlee

It will be possible to raise various matters but we have had a recent Debate on war finance and we should like to get on with other Business.

Mr. Stephen

Has agreement been come to in the Cabinet in connection with the Town and Country Planning Bill?

Mr. Attlee

Yes, and proposals will soon be brought forward.

Mrs. Tate

Is it proposed to have a Debate on civil aviation before the end of the present Session?

Mr. Attlee

We have had four Debates on civil aviation. It would perhaps he a good thing to allow the new Minister time.

Mr. Ivor Thomas

Will there be an early opportunity of discussing the conference at Dumbarton Oaks?

Mr. Attlee

We must remember that there is important legislation to be got through and there will be very wide opportunities for discussion on the King's Speech in the new Session. I am sure hon. Members would not like to exhaust all the interesting subjects before they come to it.

Sir H. Williams

The right hon. Gentleman says that consultations are taking place on the compensation Clauses with representatives of various parties; will he give some indication of who the representatives are?

Mr. Attlee

I did not say representatives; I said various Members.

Sir H. Williams

Could the right hon. Gentleman indicate who the various Members are?

Mr. Attlee

If the hon. Member will see me, I will be glad to tell him.

Mr. Martin

Will the House have some opportunity of discussing the London situation and the replacement of houses?

Mr. Attlee

I think that there has been some discussion about that, but perhaps the hon. Member will approach the usual channels.

Commander King-Hall

May I ask when the Government will be able to announce the date of the termination of the present Session?

Mr. Attlee

It depends very largely on how we get on in clearing up necessary legislation.

Lieut.-Commander Hutchison

Will the Government publish the Dumbarton Oaks proposals in a White Paper?

Mr. Attlee

I should like notice of that question; perhaps the hon. and gallant Member will put it on the Paper.

Mr. Muff

Can my right hon. Friend afford facilities for a full Debate on the conditions and length of service of our soldiers serving overseas?

Mr. Attlee

All these other matters should be discussed through the usual channels.

Mr. Bowles

What does my right hon. Friend propose that English and Scottish Members should do on Tuesday next?

Mr. Attlee

It will be a great opportunity for them to listen to the eloquence of their colleagues from Wales.

Mr. Buchanan

With regard to the Business for to-morrow, the Committee stage of the Unemployment Insurance Bill has been put down as the second Order. I have no knowledge of how long the first Order will take, and what is likely to happen on the second, but it may well be that the discussion on the first Order will last some time. I would, therefore, ask the right hon. Gentleman whether, in view of the importance of the Unemployment Insurance Bill, he will consider taking it as the first Order or, alternatively, suspending the Rule.

Mr. Attlee

We hope to get on with the first Order so that there will be adequate time for the second. As the hon. Member knows, we cannot very well suspend the Rule on a Friday.

Mr. Buchanan

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that unemployment insurance is a matter which affects the wellbeing of great masses of people? It is constantly being put down second, and I would ask him whether, on this occasion, it cannot be put down as the first Order.

Mr. Attlee

I will look into that and try to meet the general convenience of Members.