§ Mr. Herbert MorrisonMonday, 25th March—Committee and remaining stages of the Consolidated Fund Bill. A Debate will take place on building materials. Consideration of Lords Amendments to the Water (Scotland) Bill
§ Tuesday, 26th March—Committee stage of the Housing (Financial and Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill
2039§ Wednesday, 27th March—Report and Third Reading of the Acquisition of Land (Authorisation Procedure) Bill.
§ Thursday, 28th March—A Debate will take place on the Opposition Motion relating to the Liverpool Cotton Market until 7.30 p.m. Afterwards, we propose to take the remaining stages of the Housing (Financial and Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill.
§ Friday, 29th March—Committee and remaining stages of the Army and Air Force (Annual) Bill. We hope that the House will agree to take the Second Reading of the Bill tomorrow at the end of business. The Second Reading is usually a formal stage. Conclusion of the Debate on outstanding Government of India and Burma Orders, and Second Reading of the United Nations Bill [Lords] and Committee stage of the necessary Money Resolution.
§ It may be convenient for me to inform the House that my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer will open his Budget on Tuesday, 9th April.
§ Mr. EdenCan the right hon. Gentle man tell us anything more about the United Nations Bill [Lords], how urgent he considers it, or anything about it?
§ Mr. MorrisonI understood that it was wanted as soon as possible. I forget the exact scope of the Bill. I do not think it is a controversial Measure, but it is required as soon as may be.
§ Mr. EdenI asked that question because the Bill is extremely difficult to understand. I thought the right hon. Gentleman might have been more fortunate than I have been. Evidently he has not.
§ Mr. MorrisonThat probably explains my restraint.
§ Mr. StokesDoes my right hon. Friend's announcement that the Budget will be on 9th April, mean that he is not going to find time for a Debate on the tragic situation in Western Europe, be cause if it does not take place immediately it will not be before Easter, and the matter is urgent?
§ Mr. MorrisonWe have it in mind, but I am afraid that the Debate cannot take place immediately.
§ Lieut.-Colonel ByersCan the right hon. Gentleman give a clear indication of when time will be given for a Debate on the world food situation, which is be coming more urgent every day? Can he also indicate when the White Paper showing the food position in Europe will be available to the House?
§ Mr. MorrisonI think that the White Paper will not be long delayed; indeed it will be available fairly soon. I cannot name a date for the Debate. In fact the Debate has not yet been settled. We would naturally prefer to have a talk with my right hon. Friend the Minister of Food before we became officially committed.
§ Mr. EdenWe understand that, and I think it is a perfectly correct decision, but is there any news of the bird being on the wing?
§ Mr. MorrisonThe bird is almost in that condition.
§ Sir W. WakefieldCan the right hon. Gentleman say when the Second Reading of the National Health Service Bill is to be taken? Will it be before Easter?
§ Mr. MorrisonYes, Sir, but of course we wish to give the House reasonable time to absorb the provisions of the Bill. The Bill is available now, I understand, or will be today. We want to take it before Easter, but we naturally wish to give Members time to consider the proposals in it.
§ Sir T. MooreIs the bird a little fatter than he was when he left?
§ Sir W. WakefieldDoes not the right hon. Gentleman think that having the Second Reading of the National Health Service Bill before Easter, does not give reasonable time for consideration and discussion?
§ Mr. MorrisonIt is highly probable that there will be nearly three weeks, which I should have thought was ample time.
§ Mr. GallacherIn view of the disappointment felt by many Scottish Members on Tuesday, I wish to ask the Leader of the House, very seriously, if he will arrange another day before Easter, for a discussion on Scottish affairs.
§ Mr. MorrisonI have previously tried to restrain the one-sided nationalistic tendencies of the hon. Member. He seems 2041 to go nationalistic, one way one week, and another way the next. I should have thought it better to explore the possibility of Supply days.
§ Mr. EdenAs regards the National Health Service Bill, I do not ask for an. answer now, but will the right hon. Gentleman bear in mind that it is now less than a month to Easter? This is a Bill about which many HON. MEMBERS will, I think, wish to take local opinion. It would surely not be unreasonable that it should be an early item after the Easter Recess.
§ Mr. MorrisonI thought if we got round about three weeks, between the publication of the Bill and the Second Reading, it was treating everybody with full consideration.
§ Sir W. SmithersCan the right hon. Gentleman find time for a Debate on the Motion standing in my own name, and those of about 16 other HON. MEMBERS, about Victory Parade on 8th June? In view of the questions today about the food and economic situation, may I ask him whether it is seemly to hold a Victory Parade under these distressing conditions?
§ [That this House, in view of the widespread distress, misery and hunger over large areas of Europe and of the world; in view of the difficult food situation in Britain; the serious loss of production, notably about 4,000,000 tons of coal, caused by the VE and VJ holidays; the serious strain which will be placed on already overburdened road and rail transport services; and the urgent need for concentrating all our moral and material resources on greater production, asks His Majesty's Government to reconsider their decision to hold a Victory Parade on 8th June and to set aside that day as a public holiday.]
§ Mr. MorrisonI do not think there is any prospect of the Government finding time for a Debate on the hon. Member's Motion.
§ Sir Henry Morris-JonesMay I revert to the matter raised by my right hon. Friend the acting Leader of the Opposition, namely, this question of national health. The right hon. Gentleman has stated that Budget day will be 9th April. That is, roughly, three weeks from now and leaves only one week before that during which the National Health Services Bill can possibly be raised. Could the 2042 right hon. Gentleman give a little more indication to the House on whether this Bill will be taken before or after Easter?
§ Mr. MorrisonI really think round about three weeks is adequate, and not ungenerous. As a matter of fact, the profession with which the hon. Gentle man is associated has already started on the job, even before the Bill was available.
§ Mr. Benn LevyRelating to the business arrangements for last Wednesday night, may I ask my right hon. Friend in view of the fact that there was a clear mutual understanding, arrived at through the usual channels, that the Debate on the Scottish Housing Bill should terminate at 10.15, and that the hon. and gallant. Member for East Renfrew (Major Guy Lloyd) saw fit to break that gentleman's agreement— [HON. MEMBERS: "Oh."] — what will be the attitude in the future of the Leader of the House towards this time-honoured system of private arrangements, if certain HON. MEMBERS opposite consider that these gentlemen's agreements are something from which they are exempt?
§ Mr. StokesOn a point of Order. In defence of the rights of back benchers—[HON. MEMBERS: "Hear, hear."] — may I ask if you, Sir, are going to tolerate the suggestion that these private arrangements should supersede the rights, of back benchers?
§ Mr. SpeakerI agree that they are in no way official.
§ Mr. GallacherWas it an Englishman or a Scot that made the agreement?
§ Mr. MorrisonIt is perfectly true an arrangement was reached. Although it was private in the first place, it was announced and confirmed by me, with the assent of the acting Leader of the Opposition. These are not corrupt bargains between the two Front Benches; they are matters for the convenience of the House and its workings —
§ Mr. StokesNo.
§ Mr. MorrisonOh, yes. My hon. Friend has been asking for time for something; now he is making impossible the provision of time for anything. I only say I am perfectly sure that the Front Bench opposite, together with this Front Bench, would wish these undertakings to be carried out for the convenience of the House.
§ Mr. StokesMr. Speaker, may I ask you whether you allow the Leader of the House to impute to me motives which I never had. My point is this: I was asking for time for other purposes. I also insist that the inalienable right of back benchers should be regarded, and when the Rule is suspended, it should be suspended indefinitely so that all back benchers have an opportunity.
§ Mr. MorrisonI follow my hon. Friend's point, and I always respect his efforts in the cause of human freedom. If that argument is to prevail when an arrangement has been come to and announced, then it is a different matter. It becomes difficult to suspend the Rule at all, which I did under pressure from Scottish Members, with the co-operation of the acting Leader of the Opposition. I was only too glad to help them. I can only say the arrangement having been made, it was a pity to break it because it makes it harder for the future.
§ Sir T. MooreSince the Government have taken both Fridays and Wednesdays from back benchers, it makes it all the more essential that, when they do suspend the Rule, it should be an indefinite suspension and no other arrangement should be made.
§ Wing-Commander HulbertMay we now face the future again? May I ask when we are to have the Civil Aviation Bill?
§ Mr. MorrisonI cannot give a day, but it should not be long. This should be an early and happy landing, I hope.
§ Mr. SpeakerWith regard to the point raised by the hon. Member for Eton and Slough (Mr. Benn Levy), I think I should say that there may have been an agreement. After all, it is to a certain extent a matter for me whether or not I accept the Motion for the Closure. I quite deliberately said that, after the Minister, we would have one more speaker from the other side, and then I accepted the Closure. Therefore, the agreement between the two Front Benches was altered by my accepting a Private Member to make one more speech. I think one trusts the Speaker— at least I hope so— [HON. MEMBERS: "Hear, hear."] —to use his own judgment, whether or not he gives the Closure. Apart from that, I think it is reasonable that both Front Benches should make agreements, roughly, about the time.
§ Mr. MorrisonWe are very much obliged to you, Sir. May I assure you we all trust Mr. Speaker.
§ Mr. Benn LevyI was not aware of this particular Ruling of yours, Sir, or that you had said what you now say you did say. In fairness, I do feel I ought to say that it takes a great deal of substance out of my strictures.
§ Mr. StokesWhilst not wishing to criticise your opinion in any way, Mr. Speaker, may I take it from what you said, that on future occasions when this kind of arrangement is come to, you will have due regard to the large number of back-bench speakers who may want to air their views after the Minister has wound up?
§ Mr. SpeakerYes, but not always unlimited.
Mr. De la BèreIs the Leader of the House aware that this is the first day of spring; and is he further aware that the bud of liberty opened with an English spring?
§ Mr. James CallaghanIs there likely to be time before Easter for a discussion on the Report of the Committee on Members' Expenses?
§ Mr. MorrisonWell, Sir, 1 do not know. As my hon. Friend will appreciate, the report has only just become available and I think HON. MEMBERS would like a little time to study and consider it. There fore, 'I am afraid I am not in a position to say anything about the discussion. Presumably, the first thing would be for the Government to state their own views. These will be under consideration.
§ Mr. Henderson StewartMay I ask the Leader of the House if, in the Debate on the fishing industry today, since the Ministry of Agriculture and the Ministry of War Transport are both directly concerned with the problems relating to fishing boats, representatives of both Departments will be present during the Debate?
§ Mr. MorrisonProbably, Sir. We shall try to arrange that.
§ Lieut.-Commander Gurney BraithwaiteMay I ask the Leader of the House, in regard to the Report of the Select Committee on Members' Expenses, if he will see that no Debate takes place until the evidence has been published, and adequate time given for its consideration?
§ Mr. MorrisonI am much obliged to the hon. and gallant Member. It is a perfectly fair consideration, which the Government will certainly keep in mind.