§ The Lord President of the Council (Mr. Herbert Morrison)Yes, Sir. The Business for next week will be as follows:
MONDAY, 5TH DECEMBER—Second Reading of the India (Consequential Provision) Bill and Committee stage of the necessary Money Resolution;
1326 Remaining stages of the Armed Forces (Housing Loans) Bill;
Consideration of Lords Amendments to the Married Women (Maintenance) Bill; Adoption of Children Bill and Law Reform (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill;
Consideration of Motions to approve the Draft Calf Rearing Scheme Orders, and the Agriculture (Maximum Area of Pasture) (Scotland) Order.
TUESDAY, 6TH DECEMBER—Committee stage of the Justices of the Peace Bill [Lords].
WEDNESDAY, 7TH DECEMBER—Committee and remaining stages of the India (Consequential Provision) Bill;
Conclusion of the Committee stage of the Justices of the Peace Bill [Lords].
THURSDAY, 8TH DECEMBER—Consideration of Lords Amendments to the National Health Service (Amendment) Bill (which are expected to be received from another place today), and to the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Bill;
Consideration of Motion to approve the Draft Wool Textile Industry Development Council Order.
FRIDAY, 9TH DECEMBER—Second Reading of the following Consolidation Bills, which have been received from another place: Patents Bill, Registered Designs Bill, and Vehicles (Excise) Bill;
Further progress with outstanding Business.
During the week we shall ask the House to take the Committee and remaining stages of the Parliament Square (Improvements) Bill in the event of its being reported from the Select Committee to which it has been referred.
§ Earl WintertonMay I once again ask the right hon. Gentleman if time can be given for a discussion of the Motions standing in the name of the hon. Member for North Hendon (Mrs. Ayrton Gould) and of the hon. Member for Barking (Mr. Hastings) and myself, which could be put into a composite Motion, on the subject of cruelty to children.
[That this House calls upon the Government to give consideration to the home conditions of neglected children
1327 who were outside the terms of reference of the Curtis Committee, with a view to strengthening the law and administration regarding them.]
[That consideration should be given to an alteration of the law regarding cruelty to children, with a view to the increase of the maximum penalty as well as provision for instruction and assistance for parents or guardians of children where cruelty or indifference arises from ignorance or environmental conditions.]
Is my right hon. Friend aware that, since the matter was last raised in this House, there have been some cases of assaults upon and torture of children which read like the chronicles of Belsen, and surely before this House comes to an end there should be an opportunity to discuss this entirely non-party-political matter?
§ Mr. MorrisonWe will consider that matter, but I think it would be inappropriate that any of us should give the impression that this is a country of excessive cruelty towards children, and that is liable to be done. I am doubtful if I can find time, but I will see what can be done.
§ Mrs. Ayrton GouldIs the Leader of the House aware that it is just because we take to heart the welfare of children so much that we are so concerned about the increasing, thought admittedly small, number of cases which are so serious, and there are many more cases we know nothing about? Would it not be possible to air this in the hope that before long some definite action could be taken?
§ Mr. MorrisonI will keep that in mind. On the other hand, it is profoundly important that we should keep a sense of relativity about this. I know that my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary watches all these matters most carefully. I held his office earlier and I think there is liable to be a great deal of exaggeration as to the number of cases that occur, but I will consider the matter.
§ Professor SavoryIn view of the consideration that the right hon. Gentleman always shows to hon. Members who have to travel overseas, will he not give some 1328 indication as to the date of the Christmas Recess in order that cabins and sleepers may be secured in advance?
§ Mr. MorrisonI am always willing to be helpful to the hon. Members from Northern Ireland. I cannot say now, but I will try to inform the House in the early part of next week.
§ Mrs. MiddletonCan my right hon. Friend indicate to the House when he intends to give time to the Motion on the Order Paper in the name of my hon. Friend the Member for Southampton (Mr. Morley) and more than 120 other hon.. Members of this House, mainly from among the company of his hon. Friends on this side of the House?
[That, in view of the fact that the Wan Damage (Amendment) Bill has had an unopposed second reading in this House, has passed through the Committee Stage without division or amendment and has been widely supported in all parts of the House, this House calls upon the Government to provide some method of appeal for such persons as have genuine war damage claims, but whose claims have been rejected by the War Damage Commission solely on the ground that the damage was notified too late.]
§ Mr. MorrisonIn view of the business which has to be transacted, I am afraid I do not see prospects for making special time for the Motion to which my hon. Friend has called attention.
Mr. Wilson HarrisCan my right hon. Friend state, for the convenience of hon. Members in many ways, when the Chancellor of the Exchequer is likely to open his Budget?
§ Mr. WyattCan my right hon. Friend say when the House will have an opportunity to debate the gigantic failure of private enterprise in the film industry?
§ Mr. MorrisonThese crises and difficulties in relation to private enterprise keep crowding upon us one after the other. I think it would be an excellent thing that the House should Debate these things and try to find out what is so gravely wrong with the system of private enterprise, but we must consider the time factor.