HC Deb 14 March 1946 vol 420 cc1292-5
Mr. Eden

May I ask the Leader of the House if he will tell us the Business for next week?

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

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

Monday, 18th March—Committee and remaining stages of the Straits Settlements (Repeal) Bill (Lords). Report stage of the Navy, Army, and Air Estimates. Motion to approve the Distribution of Industry (Development Areas) Order.

Tuesday, 19th March—Second Reading of the Housing (Financial Provisions) (Scotland) Bill, and Committee stage of the necessary Money Resolution. Motion to approve draft Orders proposed to be made under the Ministers of the Crown (Transfer of Functions) Act.

Wednesday, 20th March—Second Reading of the Camberwell, Bristol, and Nottingham Elections (Validation) Bill. Consideration of the Lords Amendment to the National Service (Release of Conscientious Objectors) Bill. Report and Third Reading of the Education Bill. Committee stage of the India (Central Government and Legislature) Bill (Lords).

Thursday, 21st March—Second Reading of the Consolidated Fund Bill.

Friday, 22nd March—Committee and remaining stages of the Camberwell, Bristol and Nottingham Elections (Validation) Bill. The remaining stages of the India (Central Government and Legislature) Bill (Lords). Motion to give effect to the recommendation of the Select Committee on Procedure that the period of notice required for Oral Questions should be increased. Consideration of the Report from the Privileges Committee of 27th November, 1945.

Mr. Eden

With regard to Thursday's business, is the Leader of the House aware of the desire of His Majesty's Opposition to raise on that day fishing questions affecting both England and Scotland?

Mr. Morrison

That will be noted, Sir.

Lady Megan Lloyd-George

Can the right hon. Gentleman say whether he has now considered the question of granting an early day for the discussion of the world food shortage which is becoming daily more menacing?

Mr. Morrison

Yes, Sir. That is under consideration from the point of view of whether it is desirable and whether a convenient arrangement can be made. I am not in a position to make a statement at the moment.

Mr. Warbey

Can the Leader of the House say when the Government will be able to give time for a Debate on the Motion concerning world peace and security, standing in the names of 105 hon. Members?

[That this House considers that proposals for a military alliance between the British Commonwealth and the U.S.A. for the purpose of combating the spread of Communism, such as were put forward in a speech at Fulton, Missouri, U.S.A., by the right honourable Gentleman the Member for Woodford, are calculated to do injury to good relations between Great Britain, U.S.A. and the U.S.S.R., and are inimical to the cause of world peace; and affirms its view that world peace and security can be maintained, not by sectional alliances, but by progressively strengthening the power and authority of U.N.O. to the point where it becomes capable of exercising, in respect to world law, order and justice, the junctions of a world government.]

Mr. Morrison

If the hon. Gentleman means with regard to the speech of the Leader of the Opposition, we were not proposing to give any time at all.

Mr. Warbey

Will the Leader of the House look into the matter again, taking into account not only the manifest desire of hon. Members on this side of the House to repudiate, in clear terms, the dangerous ideas let loose by the Leader of the Opposition, but also the necessity of providing an opportunity for right hon. and hon. Members opposite to make clear where they stand in relation to their Leader's speech?

Mr. Stephen

Will the Leader of the House consider suspending the Rule on Tuesday, in connection with the Housing (Financial Provisions) (Scotland) Bill?

Mr. Morrison

Yes, Sir. I have had representations from various quarters of the House, in addition to those of the hon. Gentleman, and it is intended to extend the time for one hour.

Mr. Stokes

Will the Leader of the House consider affording an opportunity, at an early date, for a discussion on the tragic situation in Europe, not only in relation to food as suggested from the other side of the House, but also with regard to economic conditions arising from the disastrous decisions of Yalta, Teheran and Potsdam?

Mr. Morrison

I think the opportunity had better be taken on a Supply day. That is, of course, a matter for the Opposition, but I should have thought it a suitable subject for a Supply day.

Mr. Gallacher

The Minister has said that he will allow an extra hour for the discussion of Scottish Business on Tuesday. May I point out, Mr. Speaker, that before the war, there was no such thing as allowing one hour or two hours? When the Rule was suspended, there was no time limit. The present system was introduced as an emergency war measure. Is it not time that we reverted to the original practice?

Mr. Morrison

I think that would be a very bad reactionary measure. The net result of the hon. Gentleman's suggestion would be that the Rule would not be suspended for the convenience of hon. Members as often as it is at present. It seems to me a good thing to suspend it for the discussion of Scottish Business on a Tuesday night, because if it were suspended on a Thursday, it might cause inconvenience to some hon. Members from Scotland.

Mr. Stokes

Will the Leader of the House take a little time to consider the proposal which has just been put forward? Surely, as the guardian of the rights of back benchers he will realise that the pre war system gave every back bencher an opportunity to speak on these occasions whereas the restrictive measure prevents back benchers from getting in.

Mr. Morrison

I feel that the present arrangement has given a degree of elasticity which is helpful. The time, of course, is within the terms of the Motion. It may be one, two or three hours. I really think that, in principle, it is convenient for all parties in the House, including back benchers.

Mr. Thurtle

May I ask the Leader of the House whether, before he entertains any suggestion of the unlimited suspension of the Rule, he will ascertain the views of the majority of back benchers?

Mr. Morrison

Yes, Sir, I will; but I think I can guess them.