HC Deb 22 May 1952 vol 501 cc671-3
Mr. Attlee

May I ask the Leader of the House the business for next week?

The Lord Privy Seal (Mr. Harry Crookshank)

Yes, Sir. The business for next week will be as follows:

MONDAY AND TUESDAY, 26TH AND 27TH MAY—Committee stage:

Finance Bill.

WEDNESDAY, 28TH MAY—We hope to conclude the Committee stage of the Finance Bill.

THURSDAY, 29TH MAY—Report and Third Reading:

Family Allowances and National Insurance Bill.

Electricity Supply (Meters) Bill.

If there is time, Second Readings of:

Distribution of German Enemy Property Bill [Lords];

Motor Vehicles (International Circulation) Bill [Lords].

FRIDAY, 30TH MAY—Adjournment for the Whitsun Recess.

I should remind the House that it is important for us to complete the Committee stage of the Finance Bill before Whitsun. We shall have devoted 11 days to this stage, which I think is a fair and reasonable amount of time. I hope that right hon. and hon. Members on both sides of the House will assist us to complete the Committee stage on Wednesday of next week. If this is not possible, we shall have to ask the House to resume after the Recess on Monday the 9th instead of Tuesday, 10th June, which, I feel sure, everyone hopes will be the day.

Mr. Gaitskell

Will not the Leader of the House agree that whether or not we finish the Committee stage of the Finance Bill next week depends upon the back benchers on the Government side of the House, and not on the Opposition?

Mr. Crookshank

I did say "right hon. and hon. Members on both sides of the House."

Mr. Shinwell

For the third and, I hope, the last time may I ask the Leader of the House when the Government propose to make a statement on the course of the military operations in Korea? Can the Leader of the House explain why there has been so much delay? Is he aware that when we, the Opposition, were the Government we were constantly pressed to make statements on this matter, and did so almost every month?

Mr. Crookshank

I think the short answer to all that is that it is hoped to make it on Wednesday.

Mr. Shinwell

Is that merely a pious hope? Can we have a definite assurance that that will be the day?

Mr. Crookshank

It was simply my turn of phrase. Wednesday is the day.

Mr. Edward Davies

While I appreciate the right hon. Gentleman's problem because of the time factor, may I ask him if he has noticed the dissatisfaction expressed by many hon. Members on the back benches at the amount of time allowed for the transport debate yesterday? We had seven hours and 24 minutes, of which four hours 57 minutes were taken up by Ministers and ex-Ministers. Does the right hon. Gentleman consider there was adequate time for the back benchers? In those circumstances, and in view of the importance of this problem to the economy of the country, will he devote further time at an early date to this matter?

Mr. Crookshank

The House came to a decision last night. I am not responsible for what happens in the course of debates. I only try to arrange the days on which to have debates.

Mr. Peart

As there is to be a new White Paper on the subject, will the right hon. Gentleman reconsider the question of having a debate on agriculture? Last week he indicated that he was against it.

Mr. Crookshank

I understand that the White Paper is being published this afternoon—at 3 o'clock. That would seem to me to be a suitable subject for debate on a Supply Day, but there is no opportunity for it next week, which is what I am dealing with now.