BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE (Hansard, 15 September 1948)

§ The Lord President of the Council (Mr. Herbert Morrison)
I beg to move, That Government Business shall have precedence at every Sitting; and that no Bills other than Government Bills shall be introduced. This is the first of the two Motions on the Order Paper today and is to enable the Government to take the whole time of the House in this short Session and to provide against Bills other than Government Bills being introduced. That, of course, does not mean that all the time of the House will be taken by purely Government business because, as the House knows, we have mutually arranged for a series of debates in which both sides of the House will have their convenience and wishes met.
This is a Motion which should commend itself to the Opposition. It is sometimes complained that the Government bring in things and ask the House to approve things which have never been done before. This is a case in which, I am advised by the Chief Whip, who has had researches made, nothing has ever been done before except this, that in a short Session of this type it has always been the case that the Government have taken the time of the House if the House gave approval accordingly. On this occasion, legislatively there will be only one Bill before the House. I think the obvious common sense of the situation in the circumstances of this short Session is that the House should agree to this Motion and I should be grateful, therefore, if the House will be so good as to approve it.

§ Mr. Eden
While in the peculiar circumstances of this Session we would not propose on this side of the House to vote against the Motions on the Order Paper, I think it is important that we should point out that this action must not in any way prejudice our attitude in respect of any future Session. I would also add—and I hope the right hon. Gentleman will agree—that if on account of any unforeseen event, this Session happened to be prolonged, I presume the Government would, of course, reconsider the matters referred to in both Motions.

§ Mr. Morrison
I cannot commit myself about future Sessions, but I quite understand that the right hon. Gentleman wishes to protect the view of the Opposition. If for any reason this Session should become prolonged—which I do not think is likely but if it should be so—we would, of course be willing—again I say this entirely without prejudice—to consider any representations the Opposition might wish to make.

Mr. Wilson Harris
Can the right hon. Gentleman assure the House that it gives him genuine pain to deprive private Members of the time allotted to them under Standing Orders and that the action taken today will in no way prejudice the situation at the opening of the Autumn Session?

§ Mr. Morrison
I beg to move, That Standing Orders Nos. 15 (Appointment of Committees) and 16 (Business of Supply) be suspended for the duration of this Session. The purpose of this Motion is, I think, equally obvious. It is a Motion that there should be no appointment of the Committee of Supply or of the Committee of Ways and Means. There is no question of Supply in this short Session, and no question of the voting of money and the raising of taxes, and, therefore, it would be inappropriate that these two Committees should be set up.