HC Deb 05 April 1950 vol 473 cc1197-8
Mr. Churchill

May I ask the Lord President of the Council whether he has any statement to make on the Business of the House?

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

The Business for the first week after the Easter Recess will be as follows:

TUESDAY, 18TH APRIL.—My right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer will open his Budget.

WEDNESDAY, 19TH APRIL, THURSDAY, 20TH APRIL, and FRIDAY, 21ST APRIL.—General Debate on the Budget resolutions and the Economic Survey.

It may be convenient for me to state that the general Debate will be brought to a conclusion on Monday, 24th April.

During the week we shall ask the House to consider the several Motions relating to double taxation which are already on the Paper.

Mr. Churchill

Am I right in supposing that the original proposal of the Government was to use Friday, 21st April, for legislation, but that as the result of discussions through the usual channels they have decided to add Friday to the Budget Debate so as to allow a continuous Debate to proceed up to the evening of Monday, 24th April?

Mr. Morrison

Yes, Sir, that is so. Representations were made to us by the Opposition to that effect. We thought that their representations were well-founded and it has been agreed accordingly.

Sir Ian Fraser

Can the right hon. Gentleman say when he expects the Debate to take place on the statement made by the Minister of National Insurance regarding the increases in Public Assistance grants; and if, when that Debate takes place, it could be arranged on a wide enough basis to enable the effect of the cost of living upon other sections of the community to be debated at the same time?

Mr. Morrison

The Debate arises from the fact that it is necessary, and rightly so, for my right hon. Friend the Minister of National Insurance to move a Motion approving the new regulations, and the House will then have an opportunity to express its views. I doubt whether that will enable us to range over the wide field of other payments of this kind, but that can no doubt be considered.