HC Deb 18 February 1953 vol 511 cc1243-4
The Lord Privy Seal (Mr. Harry Crookshank)

Arrangements have been made for a wide debate to take place on the flood and gale damage tomorrow in order to meet the views expressed across the Floor of the House when I made the business statement last week. It is, therefore, proposed to report Progress immediately in Committee of Supply and consider the Motion relating to the flood disasters, which appears on the Order Paper today. The House may consider it best to pass that Motion after a few brief speeches, and then it is proposed to move the Adjournment of the House, upon which the main debate will arise. I hope that these arrangements will commend themselves to the House.

Sir H. Williams

May I ask whether this means that we shall have our usual full opportunity of discussing in Committee of Supply the Supplementary Estimates?

Mr. Crookshank

It does not affect the Supplementary Estimates because we shall not be passing any Estimates tomorrow. They will still come before the House. They must be passed before the end of the financial year.

Mr. Pannell

May I ask the Leader of the House whether, although we shall be discussing the flood disasters on the Estimates—

Mr. Crookshank

I am sorry if I did not make myself quite clear. There is to be a Motion. After that, it is hoped that we shall get on the Adjournment, on which the debate will take place.

Mr. Boothby

May I ask my right hon. Friend whether, as the gale damage in Scotland differed rather sharply from that in England, some arrangement can be made whereby part of the debate tomorrow can be devoted to a consideration of purely Scottish affairs, or whether that would be difficult?

Mr. Crookshank

I could not answer that off-hand since it has not been put to me previously. Perhaps it can be discussed through the usual channels? I am sure that everyone wants to have a useful and profitable debate.

Mr. H. Morrison

In deciding our own procedure on the Adjournment, we have handled it in such a way that Scotland will come into the picture, as it should. Indeed, one of my right hon. Friends who is a former Secretary of State for Scotland will be speaking. No doubt the Government will take care of that aspect, but it is quite open for Scotland to come in.

Mr. Burden

May I ask my right hon. Friend whether he is aware that photographs, mosaics and intelligence reports showing the flood damage are now available in the Library and would be of great interest to hon. Members taking part in the debate tomorrow?

Mr. Crookshank

I was not aware of that, as I dare say many other hon. and right hon. Members were not. Perhaps they will take note of it.