HC Deb 03 July 1947 vol 439 cc1515-8
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.

On Monday, 7th July—Report stage of the Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Bill.

On Tuesday, 8th July—Supply (nth allotted Day); Committee. Debate on the Import programme.

On Wednesday, 9th July—We shall begin the Report stage of the Finance Bill.

On Thursday, 10th July—Second Reading of the Indian Independence Bill. It is proposed to present the Bill tomorrow and, if possible, copies will be made available in the Vote Office before the House rises.

On Friday, nth July—Third Reading of the Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Bill; Committee and remaining stages of the Crown Proceedings Bill [Lords'] and, if there is time, progress will be made with other Business.

Mr. Eden

In regard to Tuesday's Business, I think it will be the general desire of the House that the Debate should be as wide as possible and perhaps the Leader of the House will arrange for the Supply Vote to be taken formally and then we could have the Debate, if convenient, on the Adjournment.

Mr. Morrison

That expedient would be acceptable to us.

Colonel J. R. H. Hutchison

Can the Leader of the House say when it is proposed to allow a Debate on the Government White Paper on economic and industrial conditions in Scotland?

Mr. Morrison

That was dealt with a week or two ago, when it was indicated that that Debate would take place on one of the days customarily given to Supply in respect of Scotland?

Mr. E. Evans

Could the Leader of the House say when he expects to introduce legislation to deal with coast protection, which legislation was promised in January last by the Prime Minister?

Mr. Morrison

I am afraid I am not in a position to say.

Mr. E. Evans

I would remind the Leader of the House that this question is an exceedingly urgent one in many parts of the country. There is terrible devastation and an intolerable burden is being placed on local authorities.

Mr. Morrison

I am conscious of it and the Government attach importance to it, but I am not in a position to say anything about legislation.

Viscount Hinchingbrooke

In view of the vital topic to be debated on Tuesday being compressed into one day, will the right hon. Gentleman consider the advisability of suspending the Rule for at least one hour.

Mr. Morrison

I am doubtful about mat in view of the fact that we shall have a pretty heavy week.

Mr. J. S. C. Reid

Does the right hon. Gentleman realise that no selection has been made of a Supply day for the White Paper on Scotland, and I hope his answer does not mean that he is under any misapprehension in connection with it.

Mr. Morrison

I am not and I hope the right hon. and learned Gentleman is not under any misapprehension either. It is a perfectly legitimate matter to take on a Scottish Supply day. It is, of course, for the Opposition to decide what it will do with Supply days. As Scotland gets Supply days it is reasonable that this Debate should take place on one of them. A special arrangement was made in the case of Wales, because Wales has no Estimates.

Mrs. Wills

Will my right hon. Friend tell us if he is able to give us an opportunity of discussing the Motion on the Paper on World Federation?

[That in order to raise the standard of living of the peoples of the world and to maintain world peace, this House requests His Majesty's Government to affirm Britain's readiness to federate with any other nations willing to do so on the basis of a federal constitution to be agreed by a representative constituent assembly.]

Mr. Morrison

I am afraid not.

Mrs. Wills

Would the right hon. Gentleman consider asking Parliament to sit an extra day in order that we should discuss this matter because of its very urgent nature?

Mr. Morrison

I do not think that that will commend itself to the House. I can only suggest that if a suitable occasion arises on a Foreign Affairs Debate some of my hon. Friends, who attach great importance to it, will take the opportunity of dealing with the matter if called by Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Wilson Harris

Does the right hon. Gentleman realise that world government will be breaking upon us before we have had time to talk about it?

Mr. Callaghan

The subject for Tuesday's Debate is labeled "Import Programme" and I understand from the acting Leader of the Opposition that the discussion is intended to go very wide. Is it going so wide that we can discuss the consequences of the breakdown of the talks in Paris, which include not only our import programme but a number of other matters, such as exports, as well?

Mr. Morrison

I understand the Debate arises out of a statement by the Chancellor of the Exchequer, and I agree with the acting Leader of the Opposition that it would be well to have it fairly wide, but I do not think he wants the Debate to cover the whole economic field. I gather from my right hon. Friend the Minister of State that it would not be convenient to bring in the Paris talks. and I hope my hon. Friend will not wish to press that topic.