BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE (Hansard, 17 June 1954)

§ Mr. Attlee
May I ask the Lord Privy Seal if he has an announcement to make to the House about business for next week?

§ The Lord Privy Seal (Mr. Harry Crookshank)
Yes, Sir. The business for next week will be as follows:
MONDAY, 21sT JUNE AND TUESDAY, 22ND JUNE—Report and Third Reading: Television Bill.
On Tuesday, after the Television Bill, we shall ask the House to take the Report and Third Reading of the Long Leases (Scotland) Bill.
WEDNESDAY, 23RD JUNE—Supply (18th Allotted Day): Committee.
It was proposed to take the Finance Bill, but in response to the Opposition's request for a debate on foreign affairs, a Supply day is being made available for this purpose. 2279 My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary proposes to open the debate, if the House so desires. In view of these arrangements he will not now make a statement on Tuesday.
THURSDAY, 24TH JUNE—Further progress will be made with the Committee stage of the Finance Bill.
FRIDAY, 25TH JUNE—Private Members' Bills.

§ Mr. Attlee
May I ask whether some form of communiqué will be made available in good time before the debate on Wednesday, so that hon. Members will know what has been happening at the Geneva Conference?

§ Mr. Crookshank
I cannot answer that directly, but I will see that the suggestion of the right hon. Gentleman is transmitted to the right quarter.

§ Mr. A. Henderson
Regarding my Question No. 51 to the Prime Minister, which was not reached this afternoon, asking if he would arrange for the publication of a White Paper on the public proceedings and speeches at the Geneva Conference, may I ask whether the right hon. Gentleman would indicate now that such a White Paper will be published and, if so, whether it can be produced before the debate on Wednesday?

§ The Prime Minister
There will be one produced about Korea, but we thought it better to wait, on the subject of Indo-China, until the actual discussions are effectively concluded.

§ Mr. H. Morrison
It was announced that the Foreign Secretary would make a full statement on Tuesday on the Geneva Conference, so that presumably the drafting of that statement is in hand and it would have been completed in good time. Could not that be used as the basis of a White Paper to be circulated to the House, say on Monday, or Tuesday at the lastest? That would merely be circulating to the House a statement which, otherwise, would have been made verbally. Presumably, it is possible for that to be done?

§ Mr. Crookshank
I am sure that that will be considered, because my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary is always anxious to meet the convenience of the 2280 House. But I hope the House will also consider the convenience of my right hon. Friend to some extent, in view of the great pressure under which he has been all these weeks.

§ Mr. Attlee
Has the Lord Privy Seal any statement to make with regard to any decision about Members' allowances?

§ Mr. Crookshank
It is hoped that it will be possible to make a statement next week.

§ Mr. Woodburn
Can the Leader of the House give us an assurance that he will consider the Motion in the name of myself and of all the Scottish Labour Members with regard to the proceedings on the Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Bill, asking that the House should recall this Bill from the Committee in view of the fact that it has now become impossible to deal with it without impinging on the six days provided under Standing Order No. 61 for the discussion of the Scottish Estimates?
May I say to the Lord Privy Seal that the Scottish Labour Members have not impeded the progress of this Bill. There are 84 Government Amendments and only eight from the Opposition. Although a temporary arrangement was made yesterday so that we might facilitate progress, even this morning 26 new Amendments and one starred new Clause have been put down. Yet we are expected to finish before Tuesday. Would the right hon. Gentleman agree to consider the Motion asking the House to recall the Bill until such time as the Scottish Estimates have been considered?

§ Mr. Crookshank
I have no knowledge, nor can the House have any knowledge, of what happened in the Scottish or any other Committee upstairs which has not reported. As for any Motion which it is proposed to put on the Order Paper, I cannot say anything about it until I see the Motion.

§ Mr. Beswick
Has the right hon. Gentleman yet recovered from his surprise at the question I asked before, about the possible shelving of the Food and Drugs Measure? Can he say whether that Measure is to be proceeded with or not?

§ Mr. Crookshank
No. My surprise continues.