HC Deb 15 April 1948 vol 449 cc1168-70
Mr. Churchill

May I ask the Leader of the House whether he has any statement to make in Business for next week?

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

Yes, Sir.

Monday, 19th April—Supply (10th Allotted Day). It is proposed to move Mr. Speaker out of the Chair, on going into Committee of Supply on Civil Estimates and Estimates for Revenue Departments, 1948. The hon. Member for Devizes (Mr. Hollis) is calling attention to Export Targets for 1948.

Tuesday and Wednesday, 20th and 2rst April—We shall make further progress in Committee with the Representation of the People Bill.

Thursday, 22nd April—Second Reading of the Monopoly (Inquiry and Control) Bill and the Committee stage of the necessary Money Resolution.

Friday, 23rd April—Second Reading of the Law Reform (Personal Injuries) Bill [Lords], and, if there is time, Report and Third Reading of the Superannuation (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill.

Mr. Churchill

Has the right hon. Gentleman made any progress in coming to a conclusion about the Foreign Affairs Debate the week after next, and has he considered at all the suggestion which we have ventured to make that, at 7.30 p.m. on the second day of the Debate, we should switch to the Motion on European Union, which has so much support in all parts of the House and which stands on the Order Paper in the name of the hon. Member for North-West Hull (Mr. R. Mackay), so that these matters can be discussed?

Mr. Morrison

On the last point, that is the first I have heard of that suggestion, and perhaps the right hon. Gentleman will forgive me if I make no comment. On the first point, I have had a word with my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary, and I am sorry I cannot give a definitive answer at the moment. As the House knows, my right hon. Friend is about to leave for Paris, but, directly he comes back, which will be next week, we will hope that some conversations can take place, either through the usual channels or with the right hon. Gentleman, with a view to fixing a date.

Mr. Churchill

We certainly should hope that a Debate on Foreign Affairs could take place in the last week of this month.

Mr. Morrison

I will do my best to fall in with the right hon. Gentleman's wishes.

Mr. J. S. C. Reid

Will the right hon. Gentleman recollect that there are, standing on the Order Paper, two Government Motions that relate to new Standing Orders for Scottish Business. They have been there since January. Is there any immediate prospect of their being taken, in order that advantage may be taken of them this year?

Mr. Morrison

I am anxious to dispose of the Motions regarding Standing Orders affecting Scottish Business, which I understand are generally agreeable. It is a matter of time. I am afraid we cannot fix a date immediately, but the right hon. and learned Gentleman can take it that we will fix it, at a fairly early date, and as soon as ever we can.

Colonel Gomme-Duncan

Can the right hon. Gentleman tell us whether he is yet briefed on the subject of the emoluments of the Lord High Commissioner?

Mr. Morrison

I am so sorry to disappoint the hon. and gallant Gentleman, but I have overlooked it for the time being.

Mrs. Manning

Coming back to the matter raised by the right hon. Gentleman the Leader of the Opposition, when my right hon. Friend is considering the possibility of using the last few hours of the second day of the Foreign Affairs Debate for a discussion of the Motion standing on the Order Paper on European Union, will he consider the possibility of extending the time on that day? Surely, two-and-a-half hours is not going to be anything like sufficient for a discussion on that important matter?

Mr. Morrison

If I may say so, the hon. Lady is premature. I have not yet indicated whether the Motion itself will be discussed or taken up in the general Debate. The right hon. Gentleman the Leader of the Opposition made a suggestion, which I promised to consider, but I have not yet committed myself.

Mr. Anthony Greenwood

In view of the importance of keeping in close touch with back bench opinion on certain matters, will my right hon. Friend reconsider his earlier opinion and find time for a discussion of the Motion standing in my name on petrol for blood sports?

Mr. Morrison

I am afraid not.