HC Deb 28 March 1946 vol 421 cc581-5
Mr. Churchill

Would the Leader of the House state the Business for next week?

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

The Business for next week will be as follows:

Monday, 1st April, and Tuesday, 2nd April—Conclusion of the Committee stage of the Trade Disputes and Trade Unions Bill. If there is time it is hoped to proceed with the remaining stages of the Bill.

Wednesday, 3rd April—It is proposed to move Mr. Speaker out of the Chair on going into Committee of Supply on the Navy Estimates, 1946. The hon. Member for Caernarvonshire (Mr. Goronwy Roberts) is calling attention to naval recruiting.

Thursday, 4th April—The Adjournment of the House will be moved to give an opportunity for a Debate on the world food shortage.

Friday, 5th April—Motions to approve the continuance in force of the Proclamations issued by the Governor of Burma on 17th. October, 1945, and 10th December, 1942. We propose-to make further progress with the United Nations Bill [Lords], and the Patents and Designs Bill [Lords], and take the Motion to approve the Purchase Tax (Exemptions) (No. 1) Order relating to centrifugal organ blowers.

Mr. Churchill

With regard to the Trade Disputes and Trade Unions Bill, it is impossible to say how long the completion of the Committee stage will take. May we have an assurance that we shall have a full day for the Third Reading, and that the Third Reading will be postponed if necessary?

Mr. Morrison

I am afraid that must depend on what progress we make with the Committee stage and the preceding stages before the Third Reading. We had hoped, in view of the time that was spent on the first day's Debate, that it was not unreasonable that another two days should complete the proceedings.

Mr. Churchill

It would seem that this Measure, which raises wide issues, and admittedly is of great importance on both sides, should be brought to a conclusion in the House in a final Debate on a day reserved for that subject alone.

Mr. Morrison

That must depend on how we get on with the earlier stages. Perhaps conversations could proceed through the usual channels. I agree with the right hon. Gentleman that the points of principle involved are important. On the other hand, it is not a Bill that really lends itself to a great deal of detailed consideration. [Interruption.] By the nature of this Measure, with great respect, I do not think it does. It certainly lends itself to argument. Therefore, I hope if we could agree upon a reasonable scope in Committee, we might be able to meet the right hon. Gentleman. Anyway, I suggest that conversations might proceed on the point.

Mr. Churchill

I agree with that.

Mr. Clement Davies

With regard to the Debate on the world food situation, when may we expect the promised White Paper setting out the details of that situation? Can we have it in good time before the Debate?

Mr. Morrison

I hope it will be available on Tuesday.

Mr. Eden

Can the Leader of the House give any more information on the point I raised last week about the Second Reading of the National Health Service Bill? The right hon. Gentleman said that we would take it before Easter, but it is a Bill of great concern to local authorities in many parts of the country, and it would seem therefore desirable that hon. Members should have the opportunity of consulting their constituents and the local authorities before they are asked to debate it.

Mr. Morrison

I still take the view that it would not be unreasonable to take the Second Reading before the Easter Recess. To that position I must adhere. On the other hand, I am quite willing that there should be conversations through the usual channels, and if we can reach some sort of overall understanding there may be room for elasticity, with a view to meeting the point the right hon. Gentleman has raised.

Mr. Eden

It is not a question of hon. Members having time to study the Bill, though that is arguable, no doubt. The point I wanted to make was that it is essentially a Bill on which we should like to consult our constituents and local authorities. That is why I think we ought to have it after Easter.

Mr. Morrison

That is a factor which we shall be willing to take into account.

Mr. Lipson

With regard to the food Debate, will it be upon a statement by the right hon. Gentleman the Minister of Food?

Mr. Morrison

So far as we are concerned, we are willing that it should be opened by a Government statement, but whether it will be the Minister of Food or not I cannot at the moment say. I should have thought that that arrangement would meet with the general convenience of the House.

Mr. Godfrey Nicholson

Will the terms of the Motion on the Proclamations issued by the Governor of Burma be wide enough to allow of a general discussion?

Mr. Morrison

I am afraid I do not know; that is a matter for you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker

If the hon. Member is talking about the Motion which is down for Friday week, I have not yet looked at it. It remains to be seen.

Mr. Nicholson

It is highly desirable that the House should have the opportunity of a short discussion on Burma.

Mr. Speaker

That depends on the limits -of the actual Motion.

Mr. Nicholson

In connection with Orders under the India Act it has frequently been the case that the rules of Order have been interpreted. rather widely so as to allow a general discussion on Indian questions. I suggest that the same procedure might be followed with regard to Burma.

Mr. Speaker

I can make no promises in advance.

Mr. Stokes

May I ask the Leader of the House whether he has yet had an opportunity to consider, through the usual channels with the Opposition, a possible opportunity for a Debate before Easter on the tragic economic situation in Europe arising out of the faulty decisions taken at Teheran, Yalta and Potsdam?

Mr. Morrison

I am afraid that the prospects of any other special days before Easter are very thin.

Mr. Maclay

Has the Leader of the House any idea when the Scottish Health Bill will be introduced?

Mr. Morrison

Not yet, Sir.

Sir W. Wakefield

Could the Leader of the House say whether the Civil Aviation Bill will be published before Easter?

Mr. Morrison

If possible. It is a little uncertain, but it will not be very long; I cannot be sure whether it will be before Easter.

Major Lloyd

Referring again to the question of the Health Service Bill, will the Leader of the House give sympathetic consideration to the fact that most local authorities meet only once a month, and that if the Bill is taken too soon it will be putting them to grave inconvenience?

Mr. Morrison

I am very familiar with the period of the meetings of local authorities, and I will not forget that point.

Sir Waldron Smithers

In view of the fact that those who are called into consultation by the Government were bound to secrecy until the Bill was published, does not the Leader of the House think we should have more time, in view of what has already been said, to meet our constituents and the local authorities, and to give them more time to consider it?

Mr. Robens

In view of the fact that hon. Members in all parts of the House need to make advance arrangements for meeting their constituents during the Recess, when will the right hon. Gentleman be able to announce the actual date of the Recess?

Mr. Morrison

I do not know at the moment, but my hon. Friend has raised a perfectly fair point and I will do what I can to meet the convenience of the House.

Lieut.-Colonel Harry Morris

Can the Leader of the House say whether there will be any opportunity to discuss the Treaty of Alliance with Transjordan?

Mr. Morrison

It had not occured to me that arrangements should be made for that.