HC Deb 27 July 1950 vol 478 cc693-4
The Lord President of the Council (Mr. Herbert Morrison)

I beg to move, That this House, at its rising Tomorrow, do adjourn till Tuesday, 17th October. This Motion provides for the intention which I announced earlier. The Adjournment for which it provides is about the customary period and in itself is reasonable. I would only add what I have twice already said to the right hon. Gentleman, that if it becomes necessary for the House to be convened before 17th October the Government will, if they are so convinced, take the necessary steps. Moreover, if we receive representations from the Opposition or from other quarters of the House the Government will certainly take them fully into account and give them proper consideration in coming to their own conclusion as to whether they should make representations. We quite understand the circumstances in which we are adjourning. The House may take it from me that if it is necessary in the interests of the public house—[Laughter.]—it is almost a pity a Secret Session has not begun—in the public interest that the House should resume, the Government will take into consideration all the circumstances and if necessary take the appropriate steps.

Mr. Eden

I am much obliged to the right hon. Gentleman. In view of what the right hon. Gentleman has just said, I think the time for the Adjournment has almost come. [Laughter.] The hon. Member for Ealing, North (Mr. J. Hudson) may have something to say about it.

I wish to add only that the position is, the whole House feels, quite exceptional, unhappily exceptional, in a great many respects. The numbers on both sides of the House are very close but we do not want to make a particular point of that. If I understood aright the spirit of the right hon. Gentleman's statement, it was that, although it is for the Government to decide, nevertheless in conditions like this, if the House wished to come back, the Government would take account of the feelings or the spirit of a great part of the House. With that I would leave the matter. I hope very much that the occasion may not arise.

Mr. Clement Davies

May I add that I am sorry that the House is adjourning for such a long period. I think it would be better if we did not adjourn for that length of time. Might I put it to the Lord President of the Council that in considering whether the Government will call the House back they will not wait until some event is right upon us, but when they consider that events are so moving that it is necessary to take the House into their confidence, they will call us back at that time and give us due warning of what is happening.

Earl Winterton

In view of the fact that the Lord President of the Council has now answered in the affirmative the Question which I have put to the Prime Minister, which was answered by the Prime Minister in the negative, and has made it clear that if 250 Members ask for the House to be brought back the Government will bring the House back, I have nothing more to say. I would like to support what my right hon. Friend has said and agree that we should pass to the next Business. I am obliged to the right hon. Gentleman.

Mr. Morrison

I do not wish to be charged hereafter with having deceived the noble Lord the Member for Horsham (Earl Winterton). If he is happy by deceiving himself let his happiness continue.

Question put, and agreed to.