HC Deb 21 February 1946 vol 419 cc1307-10
Mr. Eden

May I ask the Leader of the House the Business for next week?

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

The Business for next week will be as follows:

On Monday, 25th January [Hon. Members: "February"]. That is the result of Parliamentary time going so very quickly.

Monday, 25th February—The conclusion of the Debate on agricultural long-term policy and the Second Reading of the Agricultural Development (Ploughing up of Land) Bill and the Committee stage of the Money Resolution.

Tuesday, 26th February—We shall begin the Committee stage of the Trade Disputes and Trade Unions Bill.

Wednesday and Thursday, 27th and 28th February—Supply, first and second allotted days; and Committee and Report stages of the Civil and Revenue Departments Vote on Account, 1946. A Debate will take place on the re-allocation of manpower and economic affairs.

Friday, 1st March—Second Reading of the Miscellaneous Financial Provisions Bill and of the Public Works Loans Bill; Committee stage of the necessary Money Resolutions. There will also be the Committee and remaining stages of the Agricultural Development (Ploughing up of Land) Bill and, if there is time, the Committee and Report stages of outstanding Supplementary Estimates.

I have also another statement to make which relates to Business. The Government propose to resume the prewar practice of laying before Parliament, from time to time, a White Paper on Defence Policy, and the first of these White Papers is now available in the Vote Office. The House will, nodoubt, wish to have a general Debate on defence issues on the basis of the White Paper before embarking on the Estimates for the individual Service Departments, and the Government will provide two days for such a Debate in the near future. It will not bepossible this year to publish the Estimates for the Service Departments by the dates which were customary before the war. The money, which must be voted before 31st March, will accordingly be sought in three Votes on Account, each of which will be discussed, together with the appropriate Vote A on a Supply Day before the end of March. These Votes on Account will be issued next week, but the net total for each Service will be included in the Defence White Paper. When the full Estimates are published. it will be necessary to move Mr. Speaker out of the Chair as usual. This will probably not be done until April.

Sir Robert Young

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman if the Government propose to take any action in relation to the recommendations of the Select Committee on Parliamentary Procedure as contained in their Report?

Mr. Morrison

They are now being considered by the Government and I hope to be able to make a statement on that point at an early date.

Mr. Kirkwood

In view of the dissatisfaction created throughout Scotland as a result of the statement made in the House by the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Civil Aviation, will the Leader of the House see that we have the opportunity to discuss the Motion with regard to Prestwick on the Order Paper in my name and in the name of my colleagues?

[That this House is of opinion that Prestwick Airport can only function as an international airport under Scottish control and direction and with a fully developed aircraft and maintenance industry established in Scotland.]

Mr. Morrison

This was all included in the Debate on civil aviation which recently took place. There will, of course, be a civil aviation Bill but I cannot say whether it would be in Order to discuss Prestwick on it, but it may be so. In any case, we provided facilities for a Debate on civil aviation policy.

Major Lloyd

Is the Leader of the House aware that in Scotland public opinion is not so much concerned about Prestwick as it is to have some specific autonomy for civil aviation in Scotland?

Mr. Morrison

That aspect was dealt with in a statement in another place by my right hon. Friend the Minister for Civil Aviation.

Captain Gammans

Can the Minister say when the House will discuss the Straits Settlements (Repeal) Bill, which has already passed through another place, and whether the Government will grant any postponement in regard to that Bill, in view of the conditions which have arisen in Malaya since that Bill went through the other place?

Mr. Morrison

Any question about actual events in Malaya ought, I think, to be put on the Order Paper. That Bill has only just passed through another place, and will come to this House fairly soon, although it will not be next week. There is, therefore, time for consideration.

Mr. Bowles

Regarding the statement made by my right hon. Friend about beginning the Committee stage of the Trade Disputes and Trade Unions Bill next week, is he aware that the Liberal National Party have Amendments on the Order Paper to delete one Clause after another? That may, or may not, be in Order, but it does seem to be almost a reversion of the Second Reading.

Mr. Morrison

Matters of Order are for you, Mr. Speaker. I am distressed to hear this sad knowledge about the Liberal National Party, but, as I say, any question of Order would be a matter for the Chair. As to the Business for next Tues- day, if we complete the Committee stage I shall be happy, but we have to allow for the possibility that that might not be so.

Mr. Pickthorn

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that there are persons and authorities in Malaya who might wish to take advice about their legal rights in this matter, and, that being so, can we have an assurance that there will not be accomplished facts before they have time to do that?

Mr. Morrison

That does not seem to be a question on Business. It is more appropriately a question for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Colonies.