§ Mr. ChurchillMay I ask the Prime Minister if he will state the Business for the first week after the Recess?
§ The Prime Minister (Mr. Attlee)The Business for the first week after the Easter Recess will be as follows: Tuesday, 30th April, Wednesday, 1st May, and Thursday, 2nd May (until 6.30 p.m.)—Second Reading of the National Health Service Bill.
After 6.30 p.m. on Thursday, we shall take the Committee stage of the necessary Money Resolution; consideration of Lords Amendments to the Education Bill, and further progress will be made with the Post Office and Telegraph (Money) Bill.
Friday, 3rd May.—Supply (6th allotted day) (1st part); Committee. A Debate will take place on unemployment, with particular reference to demobilised officers and men of the Fighting Services.
§ Mr. ChurchillI hope the Prime Minister will be able to assure us that the Com- 2690 mittee stage of the National Health Service Bill will be taken on the Floor of the House.
§ The Prime MinisterI am afraid I am not in a position to give that assurance at the present time.
§ Mr. ChurchillI hope we may assume that very considerable thought will be given to this point. The Bill is not a party Bill in the ordinary sense. It divides opinion on both sides of the House and there is a very great volume of opinion—[HON. MEMBERS: "No."] All right; hon. Members opposite are all disciplined, and cannot say anything else. Certainly it divides opinion among all classes of Members on this side of the House. Moreover, it is a Measure in which we all have a great common share. Therefore, it seems particularly appropriate that the difficult points, which have arrayed behind them so much public opinion in the country, should be dealt with in Committee of the whole House and not by a Committee upstairs. Having regard to the fact that if it were done in Committee upstairs the Report stage would have to be very much more lengthy, it is quite possible there would be no loss of time by taking it on the Floor.
§ The Prime MinisterWe will give very full consideration to all the points made by the right hon. Gentleman. Some of them I thought rather gave weight to the suggestion that it should be taken upstairs.
§ Mr. Clement DaviesWill the Prime Minister bear in mind that the Committee stage of the Act of 1911 was taken on the Floor of this House?
§ The Prime MinisterThat is quite a long time ago.
§ Mr. ChurchillI remember it very well indeed. Might I ask the Prime Minister whether he will make arrangements for a Debate on foreign affairs to be held in the last part of the month of May?
§ The Prime MinisterI will, of course, take note of the right hon. Gentleman's request, but I am sure the right hon. Gentleman will realise the difficulty of announcing a definite date just at the present time until we see how things are going and what is the most appropriate 2691 time. I suggest that the matter can be explored through the usual channels to find out what date will be most convenient to all parties.
§ Mr. ChurchillIt is some time since we had a Debate on that subject, and a great many things are taking place in the world. We feel that the House ought to be kept apprised of what is going on, and ought to have the opportunity of keeping itself in step, and, if possible, in harmony with the wishes of the Government in these matters. I hope that, during the latter half of May, an opportunity may be found. I can see that the actual date may be difficult to fix. We may even have to ask for two days, but that, again, I am sure, can be arranged without the Government having to take time from other Business.
§ The Prime MinisterI should like to meet the convenience of everybody in regard to that, and the only difficulty is that I cannot give a date at the present time. If we had such a date, it would be appropriate for the Debate to take place on a Supply Day.
§ Mr. ChurchillI will renew my request after the holidays,
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydMay I ask whether the Prime Minister can give any indication when the Second Reading of the Civil Aviation Bill will be taken, and, secondly, if he will give an assurance that more than one day will be allotted to that revolutionary change in air transport?
§ The Prime MinisterIt will be shortly after Easter. One always has to have a sense of proportion in judging what are revolutionary changes.
§ Colonel J. R. H. HutchisonWill the Prime Minister bear in mind, nevertheless, that this is a revolutionary change so far as Scotland is concerned, and that this is a question which will range far and wide, and will he consider that in allotting any suitable time for discussion of this great Measure?
§ The Prime MinisterYes, Sir, certainly.
§ Mr. W. J. BrownWill the Prime Minister consider the refusal last week of the Leader of the House to provide time for 2692 a discussion of the Motion on the Order Paper signed by some 200 hon. Members dealing with the question of the counting of non-established service for pensions in the public service?
§ [That the whole question of the counting of unestablished service for Civil Service pensions should be referred to a Select Committee of the House.]
§ The Prime MinisterI regret that, in the present state of public business, I see no prospect of being able to allot a special day. No doubt, the hon. Member will find an opportunity of getting in on that subject on an appropriate occasion.
§ Mr. BrownIs not the Prime Minister aware that this is the kind of issue which has been raised over and over again in the inconclusive form which Debates on the Adjournment and so on provide, that this question is many years old and ought to have been settled many years ago, and that it is within the clear decision of this House, which we can only secure by discussion on a Motion? Cannot the right hon. Gentleman, in the interests of the poor men concerned, for they are poor men and public servants, at least provide us with half a day in which to get to grips with this problem and remove it from the agenda of the House?
§ The Prime MinisterAs at present advised, I can see no prospect in the immediate future of giving a day.
§ Sir Wavell WakefieldCould not the House return on Monday, instead of Tuesday, so that we could have the Debate on the Monday?
Major Leģģe-BourkeMay I ask the Prime Minister if he will give an assurance that we will have a Debate an Egypt and the Sudan as soon as possible after the conclusion of the Cairo Conference?
§ The Prime MinisterI think it would be rather premature to give a decision as to a specific date now, but it may be a suitable subject for the Debate on foreign affairs.
§ Mr. W. ShepherdWill not the Prime Minister give time for a discussion on the administration of the British zone in Germany, as the House would like the opportunity of having something to say about the £80 million?
§ The Prime MinisterThe hon. Member will realise that he can raise that on a Supply Day, and, if he consults the usual channels, it can be arranged.