HC Deb 21 March 1951 vol 485 cc2427-31
Mr. Eden

Can the Leader of the House tell us the business for next week—I mean, after Easter.

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

Next week, I hope, the House will be in Recess.

Mr. Eden

That was a slip.

Mr. Ede

I agree, but attention is usually drawn to such slips.

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

TUESDAY, 3RD APRIL—Committee and remaining stages of the Supplies and Services (Defence Purposes) Bill.

Consideration of Purchase Tax (No. 3) Order.

WEDNESDAY, 4TH APRIL—Report and Third Reading of the Leasehold Property (Temporary Provisions) Bill.

If there is time, Report and Third Reading of the Long Leases (Temporary Provisions) (Scotland) Bill.

THURSDAY, 5TH APRIL—Committee and remaining stages of the Army and Air Force (Annual) Bill, which it is hoped to obtain by about 6.30 p.m.

Report and Third Reading of the Sea Fish Industry Bill, and of the Salmon and Freshwater Fisheries (Protection) (Scotland) Bill.

FRIDAY, 6TH APRIL—Consideration of Private Members' Bills.

Mr. Eden

The Leader of the House may remember that last Monday the Foreign Secretary announced a relatively colossal increase in the amount required in respect of the Festival Gardens. We then asked him that the House should be asked to approve these new moneys —£1 million in excess of the Estimate— and he undertook that that would be done at the earliest possible moment. Can the right hon. Gentleman say why this matter is not in our "bill of fare" for the week after the Easter Recess?

Mr. Ede

I understand that a Bill is being prepared to deal with that subject, and I have no doubt that we can have conversations as to a suitable time at which to take it.

Mr. Eden

I am sure the right hon. Gentleman would agree that it is not a question of a suitable time to take it. The only suitable time to take a debate of this kind is the earliest time, because only Parliament can approve these moneys. Surely, the Bill cannot be very difficult to draw. [HON. MEMBERS: "How do you know?"] Of course, it cannot. Bills have been drawn much more quickly on many occasions. Why cannot we be told immediately after Easter; or is there, perhaps, some further big increase in the amount?

Mr. Ede

No, the sum is not being further increased. [An HON. MEMBER: "Is the right hon. Gentleman sure?"] If I was not sure I would not say. I recognise the urgency of the matter and I shall do what I can to see it is expedited.

Mr. Godfrey Nicholson

Is it not the rule that the Civil Contingencies Fund, as far as possible, shall never be used to provide money without the earliest possible introduction of a Supplementary Estimate or something similar?

Mr. Ede

This matter is to be dealt with by Bill.

Mr. Eden

When the right hon. Gentleman the Foreign Secretary made a statement on Monday we did not press then for an immediate Bill because he said it would be presented at the earliest possible moment. The right hon. Gentleman in his Parliamentary experience must know that many times Bills have been presented in one week, if they covered expenditure not allowed by statute. This House should be extremely careful before it allows the Government to incur expenditure which is not covered by Statute.

Mr. Ede

I have no quarrel with that statement and I shall endeavour to have the Bill available when the House resumes.

Mr. Ellis Smith

May I raise another point. Is it not usual to have the Economic Survey published by this time? Is it not the practice that it is published in order that hon. Members may consider it prior to the Budget debate? If so, will my right hon. Friend take steps to see that it is published as soon as possible?

Mr. Ede

I understand that it is usual for this report to be published a week before the Budget debate.

Mr. Eden

We have been repeatedly assured that a White Paper was being prepared in respect of the Supreme Commander, Atlantic. When will that White Paper be available so that we can have the long-delayed debate?

Mr. Ede

I have consulted with my right hon. Friend the Minister of Defence and he assures me it will be available as soon as possible after Easter.

Mr. Churchill

We have waited a great deal. Could we not have anything definite on that? What does "as soon as possible after Easter" mean?

Mr. Ede

I am quite sure the House desires that when this White Paper is published it shall be as full as possible, and as soon as the information that will enable it to be as full as possible is available, it will be printed.

Mr. Churchill

That adds very little illumination to the light, or lack of light, previously playing on this topic. Would it not be desirable that the matter should be debated before the Budget is introduced? Can we have an assurance that the White Paper will be laid in time for us to have a debate on the subject, with reasonable notice, before the Budget is introduced?

Mr. Ede

As I am quite sure the right hon. Gentleman realises, this matter does depend upon the consultations with other countries, and we are not entirely our own masters in the rate at which the discussions can proceed, as is inevitable in an international arrangement of this kind. But I can assure the right hon. Gentleman that I shall do all I can to ensure that he has the document as soon as possible.

Mr. Churchill

If the delay continues not only day after day and week after week but month after month, will the right hon. Gentleman realise that we shall be forced to recur to what we said we would do before, and put down a Motion to discuss it?

Mr. Ede

Nothing that I have said is to be taken as withdrawing in any way from any rights the Opposition have in the matter, and I am quite sure their desire, as ours, is that this very important international matter should be discussed in a way that will help towards a full understanding of the issues involved.

Sir Ralph Glyn

May I revert to the Festival of Britain? Will the right hon. Gentleman give the House an assurance that when the Bill is being drafted not only will the finances of Battersea Park be considered but the over-spending on the South Bank also so that it might be included in the same Bill?

Mr. Ede

The hon. Member will recognise I am not departmentally responsible in this matter, but I shall see that the point he has made is drawn to the attention of the Minister who will be in charge of the Bill.

Sir H. Williams

As the decision about the North Atlantic Command was made six months ago, surely His Majesty's Government must have been aware of all the documents. Why then delay publication of what they were familiar with six months ago?

Mr. Ede

That particular decision was reached some time ago, but there are other matters, including other appointments, that are still outstanding and it is necessary to be able to report them in order that the document shall be complete.