HC Deb 09 December 1946 vol 431 cc762-6
Mr. Eden

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman the Leader of the House if he has any statement to make about the Business for this week?

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

Yes, Sir. On Thursday, there will be an opportunity, on the Motion for the Adjournment, for a Debate on the Army, with particular reference to the Territorial Army.

Mr. Eden

Could the right hon. Gentleman also say whether we may expect, within the next day or two, a statement about India? I am sure he will realise that there is a great desire in all parts of the House to hear such a statement as soon as possible.

Mr. Morrison

I appreciate the point, but I cannot be quite sure. I hope, however, that a statement will be made tomorrow.

Major Legge-Bourke

Is it intended to make a statement about conscription dur-the Debate on Thursday?

Mr. Morrison

I do not know whether it will arise incidentally. The hon. and gallant Gentleman knows that there will be a Bill dealing with that subject in due course. I am rather doubtful; whether it may arise incidentally to the main Debate I cannot say, and, of course, on a question of Order, it would be a matter for Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Eden

May we clear this matter up, so that we may know where we are? As I understand it, if legislation is required for this matter, it would not be in Order to discuss it on Thursday.

Mr. speaker

Matters affecting legislation are out of Order on the Adjournment. That is the Rule, the fixed Rule.

Mr. James Callaghan

When my right hon. Friend says that the Debate on Thursday will have particular reference to the Territorial Army, does he mean that it will relate exclusively to the Territorial Army, or will it be allowable to raise ancillary subjects? There are other matters concerning the Army about which people arc very troubled.

Mr. Morrison

I should have thought that other matters affecting the Army could be raised When my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for War made his statement about the future internal organisation of the Territorial Army there was a request for a Debate about it, and we think that that ought to be the main feature of the Debate. I should not have thought, however, that it would be out of Order if other aspects about the Army were brought up.

Mr. Sorensen

In reference to my right hon. Friend's announcement that a statement on India may be made tomorrow, may I ask whether the Government contemplate arranging a Debate on the matter in the near future?

Mr. Morrison

I cannot tell; it depends upon the nature of the statement. We are, of course, in a period of transition towards self-government in India, and it becomes a matter for consideration, according to the nature of the case. I am very doubtful about it. It must depend upon the nature of the statement, which I have not got in my possession.

Mr. Wyatt

Cannot my right hon. Friend allow Friday to be used for debating the statement on India, because grave events are taking place in India and there has been no adequate opportunity in this House for a Debate on India for a very long time indeed?

Mr. Morrison

We had better see what happens when the statement is made. I understand that my hon. Friend is a keen advocate of India taking care of her own affairs, and at some point it will be a matter for consideration as to how far Debates in this House pass to authorities in India. I do not wish to prejudice the issue at all, because I have not got the statement on India before me, and it would be premature at this point to decide, even in my own mind, whether a Debate would be proper or not.

Mr. Eden

Will the right hon. Gentleman bear in mind that we on this side made no observations about the Debate because we were awaiting a statement? I do not think that Friday would be regarded by us as a suitable date.

Mr. Geoffrey Cooper

Will it be appropriate, on Thursday, to refer to the Auxiliary Air Force and the Royal Naval Reserve, because the Auxiliary Air Force does come under the county associations?

Mr. Morrison

I am not sure; it is a Debate on the Army, which, I should have thought, would have excluded those subjects. My hon. Friend is ingenious in suggesting that the county associations cover the Auxiliary Air Force as well as the Army. I believe that that is true, but I would not like to give an answer to his question on the spur of the moment.

Mr. Eden

I suppose it is clear that whatever is required to be done for the Territorial Army will not require legislation. Otherwise it is a little difficult to see how we are to have this Debate.

Mr. Morrison

No, it will not. If the right hon. Gentleman refers to the statement made by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for War, he will find that no question of legislation arises.

Mr. Solley

Could my right hon. Friend find time, possibly on Friday, for a Debate on Sir John Forster's report to the Ministry of Labour on the decasualisation of dock labour, in view of the great importance of this subject?

Mr. Morrison

That is very up to date. I believe it appeared in the newspapers this morning. I congratulate my hon. Friend on being so quick on the mark, but the answer is in the negative.

Brigadier Head

Is it the intention of the Secretary of State for War to make available any additional information about the Territorial Army, as the recent statement made in another place was in very broad terms?

Mr. Morrison

If a Minister takes part in a Debate I should expect him to bring his information up to date, so that the House might have the maximum knowledge.

Brigadier Head

But if the Minister makes information available before the Debate, the value of that Debate will be very much greater.

Mr. Morrison

If it is a matter of producing more White Papers, I should not have thought so. It is sometimes the opinion of the House that we are producing too many White Papers, and I should not have thought it would be suggested that we ought to produce more now.

Mr. Shurmer

In view of the Prime Minister's statement about slower demobilisation, shall we have an opportunity of debating that on Thursday, having regard to the dissatisfaction which exists?

Mr. Morrison

I should not have thought so.