HC Deb 24 June 1954 vol 529 cc593-4
Mr. Attlee

May I ask the Lord Privy Seal if he will 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, 28TH JUNE—Committee stage: Finance Bill.

TUESDAY, 29TH JUNE—It is hoped to conclude the Committee stage of the Finance Bill at a reasonable hour; and afterwards take:

Report and Third Reading: Slaughterhouses Bill [Lords];

Consideration of Lords Amendments: Housing Repairs and Rents Bill;

Motions to approve Draft Fertilisers Schemes.

WEDNESDAY, 30TH JUNE, and THURSDAY, 1ST JULY—Report and Third Reading: Mines and Quarries Bill;

Motions to approve the Draft Wool Textile Industry Orders.

If, however, the Mines and Quarries Bill, Third Reading, is not concluded by Thursday night, we propose to finish it on FRIDAY, 2ND JULY, and then to take the Report and Third Reading of the Baking Industry (Hours of Work) Bill.

Sir W. Smithers

When does my right hon. Friend expect to arrange for a debate on the Crichel Down inquiry?

Mr. Crookshank

I said that it would be as soon as we could conveniently arrange it, but it will not be next week.

Mr. Blenkinsop

Could we be told whether the Food and Drugs Bill is to be postponed until next Session?

Mr. Crookshank

It is not being taken next week.

Sir H. Williams

As two private Bills have been put down for 7 o'clock on Wednesday, and as, I understand, the first of them may run for a considerable time, is it the intention to move to suspend the rule so that both these private Bills can be dealt with on Wednesday evening?

Mr. Crookshank

That point had not been put to me. I shall have to consider it.

Mr. Beswick

Would the right hon. Gentleman not admit that this play-acting about the Food and Drugs Bill is getting just a little strange? Will he tell us whether we are going to have this Bill?

Mr. Crookshank

I am dealing with next week's business and it is not being taken next week. There certainly is not any play-acting. It appears on the Orders of the Day.

Mr. H. Morrison

We are now well into June and are getting near to July and the end of the Session. The Government put these Bills into their intentions. Up to a point, it is quite fair to say, "It is not being taken next week," but is this excuse not getting a little bit thin now? Would the Government not have had time to complete their intended legislative programme if they had not been fooling about with the mischievous and irritable Television Bill?