HC Deb 19 December 1945 vol 417 cc1341-4
Mr. Churchill

May I ask the Leader of the House whether he will state the Business for the week after the Christmas Recess?

The Lord President of the Council (Mr. Herbert Morrison)

Yes Sir. Tuesday, 22nd January—Report and Third Reading of the Furnished Houses (Rent Control) Bill; Third Reading of the Local Government (Financial Provisions) Bill; Report and Third Reading of the National Service (Release of Conscientious Objector";) Bill; and Committee and remaining stages of the India (Proclamations of Emergency) Bill [Lords].

Wednesday, 23rd January—Report and Third Reading of the Emergency Laws Transitional Provisions) Bill, and of the Trunk Roads Bill.

On Thursday, 24th January, there will be an opportunity for a Debate on Civil Aviation, which will arise on a Motion to be proposed by the Government.

Friday, 25th January—Second Reading of the Ministers of the Crown (Transfer of Function?) Bill, and Committee stage of the necessary Money Resolution.

Mr. Gallacher

Might I ask the Minister if his attention has been drawn to a Motion in the name of the hon. Member for Dumbarton Burghs (Mr. Kirkwood) and a whole host of Scottish Members, and may I recommend it to his favourable consideration for a day?

Mr. Morrison

I am afraid it would not be possible to give a day, but I have given the best advice I could to my hon. Friend the Member for Dumbarton Burghs.

Lieut.-Colonel Sir Thomas Moore

Would the right hon. Gentleman bear in mind that it will be the intention of most hon. Members to seek an extension of the Rule on the Debate on Civil Aviation; and will he keep that in his mind?

Mr. Morrison

I will keep it in my mind.

Mr. Bowles

May I ask my right hon. Friend whether the Motion on the Civil Aviation Debate will ask the House to welcome the contents of the White Paper; and if so, is my right hon. Friend satisfied with the contents of the White Paper?

Mr. Morrison

The Motion will be a Motion to approve the White Paper, and from the fact that it is published, it must follow that every member of His Majesty's Government approves of the White Paper

Mr. Stephen

Will the right hon. Gentleman afford an opportunity for a discussion of the changes in the pensions system, on which a White Paper was issued recently?

Mr. Morrison

I think we had better give a little more time for that to be studied, see what the reactions are, and what general feelings there may be.

Mr. Gallacher

I think the Minister misunderstood me. I think the Motion he referred to, is one that was down two weeks ago, but is he aware that the hon. Member for Dumbarton Burghs has a new Motion down?

Mr. Churchill

rose —

Mr. Gallacher

Wait a minute.

Mr. Morrison

No, Sir, that is news to me, but I will bring myself up to date and will have a further conference with my hon. Friend.

Mr. Churchill

Could we know when we shall have the White Paper on Civil Aviation, because some time to consider it is very desirable?

Mr. Ivor Thomas

The White Paper will be available in the Vote Office at five o'clock this afternoon.

Viscount Hinchingbrooke

May I ask a question, Mr. Speaker, about the revision of the Question roster? It is, I understand, a matter for the Government and not for you, but there seems to be no other occasion on which I can put the point. Could I ask the Lord President whether he is aware that the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster is called down to this House every day for the purpose of answering one or two Questions, most of which are put on highly individual topics by the hon. and learned Member for North Hammersmith (Mr. Pritt)? In view of the fact that the Foreign Secretary answers Questions only once a week on very much wider topics, would it not be much better if the Chancellor of the Duchy also answered Questions once a week, instead of every day?

Mr. Morrison

If I may say so, the Noble Lord is on a fair point for consideration. When this system was started my hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Duchy was not likely to be so regularly and prominently featured by the hon. and learned Member for North Hammersmith and others as has been the case. We shall look into the matter in consultation with Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Lipson

Is it the Government's intention to have a Debate on Palestine soon after the Recess?

Mr. Morrison

Yes, Sir. I am sorry it cannot be the first week, but we shall do our best to have it on an early day after the resumption of the House.

Captain Crowder

Will the Leader of the House also consider putting the Foreign Office Questions first on one day a week which was always done before?

Mr. Morrison

My general impression is that the present practice has been working pretty well, and that a high proportion of the Foreign Office Questions has been reached.

Mr. Paget

Can the Leader of the House give us any indication of when the Debate on the agricultural statement is likely to be?

Mr. Morrison

I cannot, but I recognise that the House will wish to have a Debate on agriculture. It was understood that it would be after Christmas. We will see what we can do when we come back.

Mr. De la Bère

The right hon. Gentleman will not forget all about it?

Mr. Morrison

I never forget about the hon. Gentleman, anyhow.