HC Deb 10 March 1947 vol 434 cc957-8
Mr. Eden

May I ask the acting Leader of the House if the Government have any announcement to make about Business today, in the event of the Motion on Business on the Order Paper being carried?

The Lord Privy Seal (Mr. Arthur Greenwood)

Yes, Sir. Last Thursday, I undertook to consider the suggestion made by the right hon. Gentleman the Member for Warwick and Leamington (Mr. Eden) that the Rule should be suspended for one hour today for the Economic Debate. I think it would be convenient to the House for the Rule to be suspended, in view of the large number of hon. Members who wish to take part in this important Debate. If the Motion on the Paper is agreed to, we propose to move the Adjournment of the Debate at about eleven o'clock, or as soon as the hon. Member then speaking has finished his speech. [Laughter.] Well, I hope that hon. Members will not outstay their welcome. The House will be aware from the terms of the Motion on Business on the Paper that we desire to obtain the Committee stage of four Supplementary Estimates, one for the Department of Health for Scotland and three for which the Foreign Office is responsible. I hope there will be agreement for the Committee stages of the Foreign Office Supplementary Estimates to be passed formally, and debated on the Report stage on Friday of this week. The House will, no doubt, wish to debate particularly the Supplementary Estimate for assistance to Greece, and, after consultation through the usual channels, we propose to urge that there should be reasonable time for such a Debate on Friday.

Mr. Eden

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman to bear in mind tonight whether a similar arrangement in regard to the Economic Debate might be desirable tomorrow?

Mr. Greenwood

Certainly