§ Mr. ChurchillI would like to ask the Leader of the House whether he has any statement to make concerning the Business of the House on Friday?
§ The Lord President of the Council (Mr. Herbert Morrison)As the House is aware from the statement which I made on Business last Friday, the Government desire to set up the Select Committee on Procedure before the House adjourns for the Recess.
I suggest to the House that we should consider the Motion for the appointment of a Select Committee on Procedure as first Order on Friday and, if possible, dispose of it by 2.30 p.m. Afterwards, on the Motion for the Adjournment of the House, hon. Members will have their usual opportunity to raise matters in which they are specially interested. We propose to suspend the Rule in order that hon. Members may have adequate time. This arrangement will avoid sitting on Saturday, and, from inquiries which we have made, I think that it will meet the general convenience of the House.
§ Mr. ChurchillWhile not dissenting from the general plan announced to the House by the Leader of the House, I would ask that he would suspend the Rule, not by the hour that is permitted in the ordinary way, but an indefinite suspension. We cannot guarantee that the procedure discussion will be finished by 2.30, but our wish is the same as the Government's, that we should finish our Business on Friday and not have a Saturday Sitting. May I ask for an answer on that point?
§ Mr. MorrisonYes, Sir. Naturally, in justice to hon. Members who may wish to raise miscellaneous matters on the Adjournment, we would all wish to try to finish by 2.30 on the procedure if we could, but in any case we will make it an open suspension so that there will be no difficulty at the other end of the day if the House wishes to continue to sit.