§ The Secretary of State for the Home Department (Mr. Ede)The business for next week will be as follows:
§ MONDAY, 7TH MAY—Report and Third Reading of the National Health Service Bill.
§ TUESDAY, 8TH MAY—Second Reading of the Finance Bill.
§ WEDNESDAY, 9TH MAY—Motion to commit the Rivers (Prevention of Pollution) (Scotland) (No. 2) Bill to the Scottish Standing Committee;
§ Committee stage of the National Insurance Bill.
§ THURSDAY, 10TH MAY—Supply (15th Allotted Day) Committee. The subject for debate will be announced later.
§ [Debate on British Far Eastern Prisoners of War, was announced later.]
§ FRIDAY, 11TH MAY—It is proposed to adjourn for the Whitsun Recess until Tuesday, 29th May.
§ Mr. EdenThe right hon. Gentleman will remember that we have pressed a great many times about the Festival Bill. I think it is only right that I should say 1433 that we have not asked for it to be dealt with next week, because we want the report to be available to the House before we try to debate the Bill. I understand that it will not be available at any rate early next week, and we suggested that the matter might all be taken after Whitsun. May I further say this about Thursday's business? The right hon. Gentleman knows there has been much discussion between the usual channels and otherwise about the topic for that day. Maybe it would be suitable if on this date we took the question of our prisoners-of-war in Japan?
§ Mr. EdeI can bear out what the right hon. Gentleman said about the Festival Bill. We had arrangements to take it one day next week and we received the intimation which the right hon. Gentleman has mentioned. As far as we are concerned, it will be quite convenient if, through the usual channels, it is arranged to take the question which he mentioned—the subject of Far Eastern prisoners-of-war.
§ Mr. BoothbyI understand that there is a Lords Amendment to the Sea Fish Industry Bill. Would it not be possible to get the agreement of this House to that Amendment, so that the Bill could receive Royal Assent before the Whitsuntide Recess?
§ Mr. EdeI will see what can be arranged. It is usual during the week to put in Lords Amendments as they are received.
§ Lieut.-Colonel LiptonWill it be possible to adjourn the House tomorrow to enable hon. Members to be at the South Bank on the occasion of Their Majesties' visit to the Exhibition; or have amicable arrangements for this purpose, been frustrated by a curmudgeonly attitude on the part of some hon. Members?