HC Deb 04 April 1946 vol 421 cc1399-400
Mr. Churchill

May I ask the Leader the House to make a statement on the Business for next week?

Mr. H. Morrison

Yes, Sir. The Business for next week will be as follows:

Monday, 8th April—It is proposed to move Mr. Speaker out of the Chair going into Committee of Supply on Civil Estimates and Estimates for Revenue Departments, 1946. The hon. Member for Kincardine and Western (Mr. Thornton Kemsley) is calling attention to shortage of labour in agriculture and improved amenities for agricultural workers.

Tuesday, 9th April—My right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer: will open his Budget.

Wednesday, l1th April, and Thursday, 11th April—General'. Debate on Budget Resolutions.

Friday, 12th April—Committee and remaining stages of the United Nations Bill [Lords], and Second Reading of the Post Office and Telegraph (Money) Bill and Committee stage of the necessary Money Resolution.

It may be for the convenience of the House if I say that we propose that the House should adjourn for the Easter Recess on Thursday, 18th, and meet again on Tuesday, 30th April.

Mr. Janner

Would the Lord President of the Council reconsider his decision in respect of the Transjordan Agreement in view of the important question of principle involved and give the House an opportunity for discussing that Agreement?

Mr. Morrison

If representations are made through the usual channels, they can be considered, but I have not gathered that there were any strong feelings in the House on the Agreement and that there was a case for a discussion of it.

Mr. Janner

If the Agreement is lying on the Table an opportunity should surely be given to those who consider that the matter is important to discuss the Agreement?

Mr. Morrison

It does not follow at all. There are lots of things lying on the Table. I do not say that this is a negligible or unimportant thing, but if we are going to accept the principle that everything lying on the Table has got to be debated, the House will not be doing much else.

Mr. Janner

May I ask why it is lying on the Table? This is an extremely important matter. There are other methods of dealing with other documents on the Table which do not seem to be available in this case, and I think the Leader of the House ought to give us an opportunity for having this Debate.

Mr. Morrison

The reason why the Agreement is lying on the Table is in order that the House might be informed.

Mr. Norman Smith

Will my right hon. Friend say when the House will have an opportunity of discussing the forthcoming negotiations for an international trading organisation, which is one of the conditions of the American Loan?

Mr. Morrison

On behalf of my right hon. and learned Friend the President of the Board of Trade a statement may shortly he made about that, and perhaps my hon. Friend would raise his point then