HC Deb 19 February 1953 vol 511 cc1452-4
Mr. Attlee

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

The Lord Privy Seal (Mr. Harry (Crookshank)

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

MONDAY, 23RD FEBRUARY—Committee stage:

Iron and Steel Bill.

TUESDAY, 24TH FEBRUARY—Committee stage:

Iron and Steel Bill.

Motion to approve:

Import Duties (Exemptions) (No. 1) Order relating to synthetic potassium nitrate.

WEDNESDAY, 25TH FEBRUARY—Supply [5th allotted Day] Committee stage:

Civil Estimates and Estimates for Revenue Departments Vote on Account, 1953–54.

Debate on Development Areas and Distribution of Industry.

Motion to approve:

Distribution of Industry (Development Areas) Order.

THURSDAY, 26TH FEBRUARY—Second Reading:

Prevention of Crime Bill.

Report and Third Reading:

Town and Country Planning Bill.

FRIDAY, 27TH FEBRUARY — Private Members' Bills.

Mr. Edelman

Can the right hon. Gentleman say whether the general question of unemployment and redundancy in the engineering industry will be relevant to the debate on Wednesday?

Mr. Crookshank

That is a question which I cannot answer. It is a matter for the Chair. The debate is normally very wide on a Vote on Account, but I could not give any information about that.

Mr. Emrys Hughes

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that there is a Motion on the Order Paper dealing with the question of the Prime Minister and Mr. Stalin? In view of the large number of eloquent speeches made at the last Election by the Prime Minister, demanding a meeting with Mr. Stalin, will the Leader of the House give some time to the Prime Minister to clear up the mystery of why his election promises are not being redeemed?

Mr. Crookshank

I do not think there is any need for that. If I remember rightly, the Prime Minister gave the hon. Gentleman a full and complete answer.

Mr. H. Hynd

On Wednesday's business and especially the Order which relates to the new Development Area in North-East Lancashire, can the Leader of the House say whether a reasonable time will be allowed for the discussion of that Order so that we can get some information about trade in that part of the country?

Mr. Crookshank

This matter does not lie entirely with me, but I understood that one of the reasons the Leader of the Opposition suggested a debate on Development Areas and the distribution of industry was to give ample time for that point to be covered.

Mr. Robens

When do the Government propose to give time for a debate on matters connected with the Council of Europe?

Mr. Crookshank

I have not forgotten about that, but I could not say yet when it can take place.

Mr. Robens

Does the right hon. Gentleman know that there have been great developments in the Council of Europe which demand the attention of this House? In view of the categorical assertions that time would be given which were made by the Prime Minister when he was in opposition and by the Home Secretary when in the Government, does not the Leader of the House agree that we really ought to have an early debate?

Mr. Crookshank

I agree, but there have been a number of days available and the Leader of the Opposition gave priority so far as his time was concerned to other subjects. We have not been able to find any Government time recently. However, the matter is under constant review. I understand that certain drafts are being prepared. It might be as well to wait until we see what they are.

Sir E. Boyle

Would my right hon. Friend say whether there is likely to be a debate on the Government White Paper on leasehold property before the House rises for the Easter Recess?

Mr. Crookshank

That is rather far ahead. We have still some way to go. We are only to the second day of Lent yet.

Mr. Morley

Will the Leader of the House arrange to give at least a few hours of Parliamentary time in the near future for a discussion of the proposed reduction in the grants for adult education?

Mr. Crookshank

If the hon. Gentleman is referring to rumours that he has seen in the newspapers—[Horn. MEMBERS: "No."]—he will have seen that they were connected in that context with the Estimates for next year. Those Estimates have not yet been published and I think we had better wait and see what they contain.