HC Deb 31 July 1951 vol 491 cc1183-4
Mr. R. A. Butler

Has the Leader of the House any statement to make about Business?

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

Yes, Sir. It is proposed tomorrow, Wednesday, to take formally the Committee and remaining stages of the Consolidation Fund (Appropriation) Bill. The adjournment of the House will then be moved, and a debate will take place on equipment for the Royal Air Force until 7 p.m. At the end of the debate we shall ask leave to withdraw the Motion for the Adjournment of the House and then consider the Report from the Committee of Privileges on the complaint made by the hon. Member for Bolton, West (Mr. J. Lewis) and on the complaint made by the hon. Member for Perry Barr (Mr. Poole).

We are obliged to the Opposition for agreeing to postpone the debate on the new valuation lists so that the Privilege matters may be brought on at a reason- able hour tomorrow. The debate on the new valuation lists will take place when the House resumes.

Sir Herbert Williams

When will the other Privilege debate take place, which on the last occasion started at 1.32 a.m.?

Mr. Ede

These debates will start at 7 p.m. tomorrow.

Sir H. Williams

There are three. The right hon. Gentleman only mentioned two.

Mr. Ede

I do not know of any more.

Sir H. Williams

There is one in my name and the names of six other hon. Members.

Mr. Ede

I do not regard that as a Motion dealing with Privilege. It is a Motion eventually to refer something back to the Kitchen Committee.

Sir H. Williams

The right hon. Gentleman will realise that there is the precedent in the Motion concerning the right hon. Member for Streatham (Mr. Sandys) before the war, when an attempt to rescind a Privilege decision of the House was considered a Privilege Motion and that therefore time had to be found for it.

Mr. Ede

I regret that I do not see any opportunity of finding time for the hon. Member's Motion.

Sir H. Williams

On a point of order. Is it not one of the practices of the House that no Privilege Motion should stay on the Order Paper without the opportunity being given for debating it?

Mr. Speaker

I do not think so. That is for the Leader of the House. If he cannot find time, he does not find time.