HC Deb 06 March 1945 vol 408 cc1827-8
Mr. Eden

Last Thursday, as the House may remember, I undertook to reconsider taking the Motion on the hours of sitting on Thursday of this week. I have looked at the Business again. We have a very heavy programme to-day and tomorrow, and I do not think the House would find it generally convenient to take that Motion on Friday; so, I am afraid, there is really no choice except to take it on Thursday. But I would suggest that, as hon. Members in all parts of the House are aware of the proposal to alter the hours of sitting and, as I think we are all pretty familiar with the arguments about it, it might be possible to take a decision without a long Debate. In any event, I propose that on Thursday we should suspend the Rule until 7.30 to give time for the Family Allowances Bill.

Mr. Arthur Greenwood

The Motion on the Order Paper dealing with hours of sitting is different from what has been in the minds of hon. Members for some time. I would ask my right hon. Friend whether it is possible to alter the Motion. Many of my hon. Friends were a little doubtful about the wisdom of changing the hours of sitting, but they reluctantly agreed to 2 o'clock. Could my right hon. Friend allow some compromise between 2 o'clock and 2.30, and make the Sittings 2.15 to 9 o'clock at night, with half an hour for the Adjournment?

Mr. Eden

If an arrangement of that kind commended itself to the House, naturally, we would look sympathetically at it. Perhaps my right hon. Friend will give us time to consult with the various parties in the House.

Mr. Woodburn

Is my right hon. Friend aware that it will be a very great inconvenience, in view of the transport position, to sit until 9.30? Would he not consider 9 o'clock as a satisfactory time to close the Sittings?

Mr. Eden

I do not think that there is a great deal of difference between the difficulties at 9 o'clock and those at 9.30.

Miss Rathbone

Has my right hon. Friend considered that if the discussion on hours of sitting is prolonged on Thursday, it will leave very little time, even with an hour's extension, to take the whole of the Second Reading of the Family Allowances Bill and the Financial Resolution? Could not the Financial Resolution be taken another day?

Mr. Eden

I would like to make progress. We are allowing not only an extra hour, but an extra hour and a half. I think the House could take the discussion on hours of sitting in an hour and a half.

Mr. Hugh Lawson

Is it proposed to take the Electoral Registration Regulations this week, and, if so, on what day?

Mr. Eden

It is still down for Friday.