HC Deb 31 March 1947 vol 435 cc1665-6
Mr. Eden

May I ask the acting Leader of the House whether he will tell us about the rearrangement of Business for this week?

The Lord Privy Seal (Mr. Arthur Greenwood)

In view of the representations which have been made the Government propose to make arrangements for a Debate on the fuel situation on Wednesday and the Cotton (Centralised Buying) Bill announced for that day will be postponed until after Easter.

We hope that there will be agreement to conclude the Debate on the fuel situation, which will arise on the Motion for the Adjournment of the House, at about 9 o'clock and then proceed with the following Business:

Motion to approve the continuance in force of the Proclamation issued by the Governor of Burma on 17th October, 1945; Committee and remaining stages of the Treaties of Peace (Italy, Roumania, Bulgaria, Hungary and Finland) Bill and of the Naval Forces (Enforcement of Maintenance Liabilities) Bill.

Mr. Eden

While I have no complaint to make about the rearrangement, which I hope will be convenient to hon. Members in all parts of the House, may I ask the right hon. Gentleman, in connection with the later Business which he wants to take on Wednesday, whether he will bear in mind that it may be desired to move one or two Amendments in the Committee and remaining stages of the Peace Treaties Bill? I do not think these will take long, but I thought it well to mention the matter, in view of the change in Business, as I do not think that the Government will have as long to consider these Amendments as we in the Opposition like people to have.

Mr. Greenwood

In view of the right hon. Gentleman's last statement, I think it would be to the advantage of the Government and the House, that if there are any Amendments, they should be put to the House as early as possible. I should hope, with the right hon. Gentleman, that the Debate need not be too long.

Major Legge-Bourke

The right hon. Gentleman said last week that if I raised the question of a Debate on the flooding situation, he might be able to give me an answer this week. Could he say whether it is proposed to give any time to the Motion standing in my name and that of 150 other hon. Members?

[That this House cannot but recognise the recent widespread flooding especially in the Fens as a national disaster and urges His Majesty's Government to treat it as such.]

Mr. Greenwood

I am afraid we cannot do it this week if the House wishes to rise before Good Friday.