HC Deb 28 June 1955 vol 543 cc201-2
Mr. Attlee

May I ask the Lord Privy Seal for what purpose he has on the Order Paper a Motion to suspend the Standing Order, and how far he proposes to go with the Rating and Valuation (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill today?

The Lord Privy Seal (Mr. Harry Crookshank)

The purpose is to get along as well as we can with the Bill. I am very ready to meet the right hon. Gentleman, who has suggested that we should have another clear day to debate the Bill. If that is agreeable to the House, I suggest that we proceed tonight on the Committee stage up to the new Clauses and that on Thursday, instead of the Road Traffic Bill, we should take the new Clauses and Schedules. I do not think that, in consequence of that arrangement, we need sit very late tonight.

Mr. Attlee

I think that that would be satisfactory. There is a great deal of detailed work on the Bill of which many hon. Members have particular knowledge. Provided that we do not start on the new Clauses tonight, we may finish at a reasonable hour.

Mr. Crookshank

I take it that that is acceptable and that we finish dealing with the Amendments today and take the new Clauses and Schedules on Thursday. As the right hon. Gentleman knows, the Bill is urgent. I hope that part of the arrangement will be that we have the Report stage and Third Reading early one day next week.

Mr. Attlee

We will try for that, but it depends how forthcoming Ministers are. There have been occasions when, obviously, the opinion of the whole House, on both sides, demanded changes and Ministers seemed to be rather obdurate. I hope that they will have second thoughts.

Mr. Crookshank

That, of course, is a very general statement which possibly applies to Ministers at all times—in whatever part of the House they sit now—in the future or in the past. Provided that good progress is made, I do not think that it is asking the House too much to pass the Report stage and Third Reading early next week so that we can get on with the Bill.

Mr. Hirst

Is my right hon. Friend aware that this kind of change of business in the same week, without any notice to us on this side of the House, is very far from satisfactory?

Mr. Crookshank

I agree that in these difficult matters of important business it is never easy to satisfy everybody, but I am trying to see that there is adequate time to discuss an important Bill. My hon. Friend need not worry—the Road Traffic Bill will come along later.

Proceedings on the Rating and Valuation (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill exempted, at this day's Sitting, from the provisions of Standing Order No. 1 (Sittings of the House).—[Mr. Crookshank.]