HC Deb 12 April 1951 vol 486 cc1190-4
Mr. Eden

Will the Leader of the House tell us the business for next week?

The Secretary of State for the Home Department (Mr. Ede)

The business for next week will be as follows:

MONDAY, 16TH APRIL—Conclusion of the general debate on the Budget Resolutions and the Economic Survey.

TUESDAY, 17TH APRIL—Supply (11th allotted Day). It is proposed to move Mr. Speaker out of the Chair on going into Committee of Supply on the Civil Estimates and Estimates for Revenue Departments, 1951–52.

The hon. Member for Chelmsford (Mr. Ashton) will call attention to overcrowding in primary schools.

WEDNESDAY, 18TH APRIL—Report stage of the Budget Resolutions.

Second Reading of the Reverend J. G. MacManaway's Indemnity Bill; and, if agreeable to the House, the Committee and remaining stages.

Second Reading of the Fire Service Bill; and Committee stage of the necessary Money resolution.

THURSDAY, 19TH APRIL—Supply (12th allotted Day). Committee.

Debate on North Atlantic Treaty Organisation appointments until 7 p.m.

Afterwards, debate on increased postal and telephone charges.

These debates will arise on the Estimate for the Ministry of Defence and on the Post Office Estimate respectively.

FRIDAY, 20TH APRIL—Consideration of Private Members' Bills.

Mr. Eden

Does the Leader of the House remember that we asked for an opportunity to debate the increased freight charges? Will he give any indication of when it will be possible to have that debate?

Mr. Ede

Not at the moment. I hope that discussions will take place through the usual channels and that we shall be able to arrange it. If necessary, I will arrange to make an announcement as soon as those conversations are completed.

Mr. Messer

When will the Luton Corporation Bill be taken?

Mr. Eden

The Minister of Works told us the other day, before the Budget, that he was having a special report made on the Festival Gardens by an outside accountant. Could we have any indication when the House will have information, either from the Minister of Works or the right hon. Gentleman, about that report?

Mr. Ede

My right hon. Friend hopes to receive the report shortly and he will ask permission to make a statement to the House towards the end of next week if the report is received in time for him to do so.

Mr. Maclay

As next Thursday's debate will be limited in time and apparently limited to the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation appointments, will the House be given an opportunity at some later date to discuss the wider aspects of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation?

Mr. Ede

The debate next Thursday is to take place on a Supply Day, and I think probably some other Supply Day could be found for dealing with the remainder of the subject.

Mr. Eden

Reverting to the answer to my question about the Festival Gardens, that is agreeable to us, but will the right hon. Gentleman realise that if we are usefully to discuss the legislation which is to follow, it would be desirable that we should have the accountant's report in advance of the legislation. Would that be possible?

Mr. Ede

I will see what can be done in the matter, but at the moment I cannot make any promise to publish it.

Mr. Eden

Oh. no.

Mr. Churchill

With regard to the debate on Thursday on the Ministry of Defence Vote, on which the question of the naval commands is to be discussed, do I understand that the Government will lay a White Paper beforehand and that the White Paper will show all the information they have at their disposal?

Mr. Ede

Yes, Sir. The White Paper will be published on Tuesday and will, I understand, place at the disposal of the House all the information which my right hon. Friend the Minister of Defence has.

Brigadier Smyth

Has the Leader of the House decided to give any time to the Motion on British Far Eastern prisoners of war which stands in my name and that of the hon. Members for Cardiff, West (Mr. G. Thomas), and Orkney and Shetland (Mr. Grimond) and 271 Members from both sides of the House?

[That this House is of the opinion that His Majesty's Government should give very early consideration to the claim of the British Far Eastern prisoners of war, and the dependants of those who died in captivity, for compensation from the Japanese through treaty or by other methods for the brutalities, indignities and gross under-nourishment to which they were subjected in flagrant contravention of the Hague Convention, on similar lines to the action already taken by the United States Government or that decided upon by the Australian Government in this connection.]

Mr. Ede

No, Sir. I have not yet had an opportunity to find time for the discussion of that Motion. I would point out that I think there is still one day available for Private Members' Motions, and if some hon. Member interested in this Motion were successful in the ballot it might very well be chosen.

Mr. Churchill

When is the Report of the Committee of Privileges on the two matters referred to them going to be discussed by the House?

Mr. Ede

Of course, the custom is that if there is any general demand for a debate on the Report of the Committee of Privileges time is found. I have not yet had any request from any Member that time should be so found, but of course I shall have to consider what is the weight of feeling in the House if any requests are made.

Mr. Churchill

It is not suggested that it should take more than half an afternoon—it is quite a short point—but might the matter be considered through the usual channels?

Mr. Ede

I was thinking that in addition to the usual channels there might be representations from Private Members who feel themselves interested, and I hope I have indicated that if there is any reasonable demand on the part of the House to discuss this Report, the usual custom will be followed and we shall find time.

Mr. Churchill

It raises certain broad general issues of Privilege—of what is a breach of Privilege—which it would be a help to the House to have brought definitely before them.

Mr. Ede

The Report is, of course, submitted to the House and if the House were generally minded to accept it that might end the matter. But if there is any demand for a debate which is justified, we shall certainly consider it.

Mr. George Thomas

Referring to the answer which the Leader of the House gave to the hon. and gallant Member for Norwood (Brigadier Smyth), will my right hon. Friend bear in mind that one-third of the House has signed this Motion and that the signatures are not confined to one side of the House? Will he hold out hope that if we are not successful in the Ballot he will find time to take the Motion?

Mr. Ede

We shall have to see how we get on in these matters. Certainly I cannot see time in the immediate future for discussing this Motion.

Mr. John Hay

With regard to Wednesday's Business, will the right hon. Gentleman bear in mind that the Fire Service Bill, which I understand is to be the third Order for that day, did not come into the hands of hon. Members until this morning? In those circumstances would the right hon. Gentleman consider delaying the Second Reading until the following week?

Mr. Ede

This is a technical Bill which deals with a very small point indeed, and I think if the hon. Member and others have a look at it they will come to the conclusion that it does not require prolonged study.

Air Commodore Harvey

Reverting to the question asked by my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Norwood (Brigadier Smyth), will the right hon. Gentleman bear in mind that if this matter is to be discussed and if the discussion is to be of any value, it is important that we should have it in the near future before a decision on a possible Japanese Peace Treaty?

Mr. Ede

On this matter there is also the question of a Supply Day, but I realise the interest taken in it by the House and I will bear that in mind.

Mr. Eden

Perhaps it would be convenient to the House if I were to say that we have been considering whether a Supply Day might not be found by us for this discussion. In view of what has been said today I think we will try to find an early date out of the Supply Days.

Mr. Ede

I am obliged to the right hon. Gentleman and I have no doubt that the necessary conversations will take place.

Major Legge-Bourke

In view of the appalling weather which we have had through the winter, does the right hon. Gentleman propose to find time to debate the Motion standing in the name of my hon. Friend the Member for Canterbury (Mr. Baker White) regarding the meat ration for agriculture workers?

[That this House views with grave concern the effect the further reduction in the meat ration must have upon the productivity and good health of farm workers who have not the benefit of canteens available to the majority of industrial workers; and urges His Majesty's Government to grant to full-time farm workers an additional meat ration equal to that already given to mine workers, thus maintaining their health and ability to produce food for the people.]

Mr. Ede

No. Sir.