HC Deb 04 May 1948 vol 450 cc1101-4
Mr. Stokes

On Business today, may I ask the Lord President of the Council, in view of the representations made to him last week regarding an extension of time for today's Debate and the length of the Front Bench speeches, through what channels he seems to have ascertained that neither the Front Bench speeches will be long nor many hon. Members wish to speak? I ask this as there is no Motion for extension of time on the Order Paper. So far as my investigations have gone, I find that Front Bench Members are disposed to speak for a very long time, and that there are enough back bench Members who wish to speak to occupy the whole time without any difficulty whatsoever.

Mr. H. Morrison

Naturally, I want to meet the general convenience of the House, but I must say that I have had no representations since last Thursday. So far as the Government Front Bench is concerned, there will be only one speaker from the Front Bench today. I understand that the same will be true of the Opposition Front Bench. In view of the late hours we sometimes have to keep, I should have thought it would have been desired to get off at ten o'clock.

Mr. Stokes

Are not representations in the House sufficient? Must we go behind the scenes every time? In view of the fact that tomorrow the Debate will be on a rather more limited subject, how does my right hon. Friend expect people not to go to other places to express their views if he does not give them an opportunity of doing so here?

Mr. Morrison

My hon. Friend is not becoming increasingly persuasive as he goes on.

Mr. Stokes

I tried that, but it was of no use.

Mr. Morrison

It is of use. I suggest that my hon. Friend is wrong. It is quite legitimate for hon. Members, if they want an extension, to let the Whips know. I do not think that, merely because my hon. Friend rises in his place, that is conclusive evidence that the House generally wishes to have an extension. We have had some late nights, and we shall have some more, and I think my hon. Friends, and the House generally, will, on the whole, wish tonight's Debate to finish at 10 o'clock.

Mr. Bellenger

In view of the wide range of subjects to come under discussion today—perhaps, a less wide range tomorrow—I ask my right hon. Friend whether any representations have been made to him for a special Debate on Germany? Can he give the House any guidance on that matter?

Mr. Morrison

No, Sir, I have had no such representations made to me.

Mr. Gallacher

As we have sat until the small hours of the morning often on very much smaller matters than the subject of this Debate today, will not the right hon. Gentleman reconsider his attitude on this matter and suspend the Rule? There is no reason at all why the Rule should not be suspended, so that those who desire to participate in the Debate will have an opportunity to speak.

Mr. Wyatt

Can my right hon. Friend say why he objects to an extension of time when the only people to be inconvenienced will be those hon. Members who wish to stay to make speeches?

Mr. John Hynd

My right hon. Friend made reference to representations to the Whips, and to not having had representations since Thursday. Is he not aware that very strong representations were made by a very large number of hon. Members before Thursday to the Whips, and that no answer has yet been given?

Mr. Morrison

I always try to assess the general feeling of the House. I do not want to be dogmatic about it, but I think my hon. Friend is wrong. I am advised that the Whips did not have representations before Thursday. I have to try to pick up what I think is the general sense of the House. I think I have done so.

Mr. Sydney Silverman

Through what sources does my right hon. Friend expect Members on this side to make representations to him on such a matter?—[HON. MEMBERS: "By sending a telegram."]—We all understand that the sense of the House, so far as other people are concerned, is ascertained through the usual channels. There are the usual channels through which my right hon. Friend gets the sense of the House. Are we to gather that so far as we on this side are concerned, as is suggested by hon. Members opposite, he takes notice of our representations only if we send him a telegram?

Mr. Morrison

I am always living in hope that my hon. Friend will learn what are the proper channels even within the Labour Party.

Mr. Silverman

I was asking my right hon. Friend a perfectly practical question, to which I should like to have a practical and not an offensive reply. I am asking him to indicate, when my hon. Friend the Member for Ipswich (Mr. Stokes) asks for more time, and is supported by the evident feeling of the House, whether that is not letting my right hon. Friend know.

Mr. Stokes

May I have a parting shot? Without being offensive to the Leader of the House, may I ask whether he has really assured himself that the number of hon. Members who made representations in the right quarters that they wished to speak was so small as to induce him to take a course that prevents others, who have had no opportunity to make such representations, from having a full opportunity of speaking? May I have an answer? Surely this is very important. Mr. Speaker, how do we assert our rights? This is quite the most important Debate that has taken place for a long time. A great number of people, from my knowledge—because I have had a look at your list, Mr. Speaker—want to take part. If the usual channels do not understand the feeling of the House, and there are many who really do want to air their views, how are we to protect our rights, except on the Floor of the House, and by making this sort of protest?

Mr. Speaker

The Clerk will now proceed to read the Orders of the Day.