HC Deb 21 October 1954 vol 531 cc1382-4
Mr. Attlee

May I ask the Leader of the House 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, 25TH OCTOBER—Debate on the Report and Accounts of the National Coal Board for 1953.

TUESDAY, 26TH OCTOBER, AND WEDNESDAY, 27TH OCTOBER—Feed and Drugs Amendment Bill [Lords]—Committee.

Motions to approve: Draft Pneumoconiosis and Byssinosis Benefit Amendment Scheme.

Draft Industrial Diseases (Miscellaneous) Benefit Scheme.

THURSDAY, 28TH OCTOBER—Second Reading: Civil Defence (Armed Forces) Bill [Lords]; and Committee, and, if agreeable to the House, remaining stages of the Overseas Resources Development Bill.

FRIDAY, 29TH OCTOBER—Second Reading: National Gallery and Tate Gallery Bill [Lords].

It may be convenient for me to inform the House that the consideration of outstanding Government business in both Houses and debates on foreign affairs and other subjects will probably occupy our attention for five weeks or so.

It is expected that Prorogation will take place during the week beginning Monday, 22nd November, and that the new Session will be opened by Her Majesty the Queen on Tuesday, 30th November. I shall make a further statement later.

Mr. Woodburn

Can the right hon. Gentleman state what is the position with regard to the Teachers' Superannuation Bill, in respect of which there are on the Order Paper Amendments for rejection in the name of my right hon. Friend the Leader of the Opposition and myself?

Mr. Crookshank

Yes, Sir. I have noticed these Amendments, but the Bill will not be taken next week.

Mr. L. M. Lever

Will the Leader of the House provide an opportunity, at a very early date, of debating the Motion in the name of the hon. Member for Brierley Hill (Mr. Simmons) and subscribed to by 130 Members of the House, relating to the 1914–18 war disability pensioners? These are the claims of B.L.E.S.M.A. on behalf of this very deserving section of the community.

Mr. Crookshank

I cannot make any promise about any debates at present. All that I can say is that, as we have a lot of legislation to get through, the sooner we get through it the more days will become available for general debate.

Mr. Hale

Will time be given before the end of this Session to discuss the Report of the Royal Commission on Capital Punishment, which has now been in our hands for a considerable time and upon which the Government have not yet apparently made up their minds?

Mr. Crookshank

I think that I can say to the hon. Gentleman, as I said to the hon. Member for Ardwick (Mr. L. M. Lever) that the matter is engaging the immediate attention of my right hon. and gallant Friend.

Mr. Paget

Surely this is a Committee which has been set up by the whole House. Its report has been in our hands for a long time and there ought to be a debate on it this Session. Can the right hon. Gentleman give us an assurance that it will be debated this Session?

Mr. Crookshank

I do not think I can give an assurance quite in that form at present. It is certainly one of the matters which I have in mind for early discussion when opportunity arises.