HC Deb 11 July 1946 vol 425 cc584-8
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:

Monday, 15th July—Report stage of the Finance Bill and Motion to approve the Purchase Tax Exemptions (Utility Furniture) Order.

Tuesday, 16th July—Supply (17th Allotted Day); Committee. Debate on Broadcasting.

Wednesday, 17th July—Conclusion of the Report stage of the Finance Bill and consideration of Motions relating to the draft Order on Double Taxation Relief (Taxes on Income) (U.S.A.) and the Milk Marketing (County of Orkney) (Charges) Order.

Thursday, 18th July—There will be an opportunity for the House to hear an account of the Cabinet Mission's visit to India. We hope that it will be agreed that this will not be the occasion for a long Debate, and that it will be possible to bring it to a conclusion at a reasonably early hour. It may be convenient for me to inform the House that the Government propose, in the autumn, to afford time for a full discussion on the future Government of India. There is now a White Paper in the Vote Office containing a record of the correspondence which has recently passed. The House will be aware that an Order will have to be made in regard to bread rationing and should the Order be prayed against, Thursday might afford an opportunity for the Motion to be moved at a reasonable hour.

Friday, 19th July—Third Reading of the Finance Bill.

Mr. Eden

As regards the first part of the Business on Thursday, we shall be having consultations through the usual channels. I understand that the Debate will then take place on a Motion to be put down by the Government?

Mr. Morrison

I gather that that might be a convenient course to adopt, because, otherwise, questions of legislation might arise which might cramp the style of the House. If that proves to be the case, we shall put down a suitable non-contentious Motion to help the House over that difficulty.

Major Legge-Bourke

May I ask the Leader of the House whether there is any likelihood of a White Paper on Palestine being published in the near future?

Mr. Morrison

I am afraid I cannot hold out any time promises about that. I am bound to say that my own recollection of a promise of a White Paper is a bit hazy. I am not at all clear about it. If no promise was given, perhaps I had better say nothing about it; if a promise was given, I will inquire into it.

Mr. Sydney Silverman

Whether or not a promise was given about the publication of a White Paper, my right hon. Friend will remember that we have continually been promised, for many weeks, a statement by the Government on its constructive policy in Palestine and we have not had it yet. The Prime Minister's statement last week was only concerned with administrative action and contained no information about policy. When may we expect a statement on policy?

Mr. Morrison

It is intended that there shall be a discussion before the House rises for the Summer Recess.

Mr. David Eccles

May I ask the Leader of the House whether his attention has been drawn to the fact that out of 63 Questions put down to the Minister of Food, the right hon. Gentleman only had time to answer 15, and that there are already over six on the Paper for next Wednesday? Because of this, no hon. Member has a chance of getting another Question answered by the Minister before 24th July. Therefore, I would ask the right hon. Gentleman whether, in view of the public interest in food questions at the moment, he will arrange the Questions in such a way that the Minister of Food may have further opportunities to answer them?

Mr. Morrison

There must be something very interesting behind so many Questions being put down on the Paper. I do not think I could arrange for the Minister of Food to monopolise the Order Paper.

Mr. Eden

Does not the right hon. Gentleman think it a little unsatisfactory that it should not he in the power of the Minister of Food to enlighten the House in response to these Questions before 24th July?

Mr. Morrison

I think he has been very good in enlightening the House, and the country, up to now.

Sir Henry Morris-Jones

Could the right hon. Gentleman say when the Report stage of the National Health Service Bill will be taken, and what time will be allotted to it?

Mr. Morrison

I hope that stage will be reached shortly.

Lieut.-Colonel Sir Thomas Moore

Could the right hon. Gentleman say whether it is still the intention of the Government to terminate the Debate on the Civil Aviation Bill at seven o'clock this evening, in view of the fact that we are not yet half way through the Report stage?

Mr. Morrison

My impression was that we had made better progress, and I am sure that, with the helpful cooperation of the hon. and gallant Gentleman and his hon. Friends, we shall get through.

Mr. De la Bère

Can the Leader of the House say whether it will be possible to find time for a Debate on the source of the obviously inspired campaign about the American Loan and the increased petrol rationing? It is most inexplicable why we have this propaganda.

Mr. Morrison

It is all inexplicable to me; I do not follow the point. I am sorry, but we could not find time to have a Debate on that subject.

Mr. De la Bère

The right hon. Gentleman does not want the truth.

Mr. Bowles

Can my right hon. Friend say how many hours of Parliamentary time have been devoted to the Finance Bill? There are two more stages, the Report stage and the Third Reading, and there have already been two all-night Sittings. How many hours were spent altogether on the Finance Bill?

Mr. Morrison

I do not know, but the whole procedure in respect of the Budget and the Finance Bill has been on the leisurely side. There is a Committee of the House examining procedure and no doubt they will report on the problem; I cannot anticipate their report.

Mr. Oliver Stanley

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that something like five pages of the Order Paper are occupied by Amendments put down by the Chancellor of the Exchequer to meet points raised from all sides during the Committee stage?

Mr. Morrison

I understand from my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer that they were all prearranged and agreed upon. I was only expressing the opinion that I think the whole procedure in connection with the Budget is capable of beneficial examination.

Mr. Eden

To refer to this matter of the order of Questions, I should be glad if the right hon. Gentleman will look at the point. As I understand it, the Questions addressed to the Minister of Food never come before No. 45, and never before the Prime Minister's Questions, with the result that they are seldom, it. ever, exhausted. I am sure the right hon. Gentleman will agree that there is a measure of interest in these Questions on all sides of the House. Will he see if there cannot be a fairer method in regard to Questions?

Mr. Morrison

I will look into the matter, but I cannot remember clearly whether it is the case that Questions to the Minister of Food never come before No. 45. If I may respectfully advise the Opposition, it would be well to remember that while this subject is a bit exciting today, it may be different the day after tomorrow. I remember that, when we were in Opposition, we had a special place for the Minister of Labour, and it was very strange how long that arrangement persisted after it was useful.