HC Deb 17 March 1955 vol 538 cc1458-9
Mr. Whiteley

In the absence of my right hon. Friend, may I ask the Leader of the House whether 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, 21ST MARCH—Second Reading: Oil in Navigable Waters Bill [Lords].

Committee stage, Money Resolution, which it is hoped to obtain by 7 o'clock:

Report and Third Reading of the three Army and Air Force Bills.

Motion to approve Fatstock (Guarantee Payments) Order.

TUESDAY, 22ND MARCH—Second Reading: Consolidated Fund Bill.

Debate on the genetic effects of nuclear explosions.

WEDNESDAY, 23RD MARCH—Committee and Third Reading: Consolidated Fund Bill.

Debate on the cost of living.

Motion to approve British Wool (Guaranteed Prices) Order.

THURSDAY, 24TH MARCH—Second Readings: Pensions (India, Pakistan and Burma) Bill.

Isle of Man (Customs) Bill.

Committee stage, Money and Ways and Means Resolutions.

Committee stage, Children and Young Persons (Harmful Publications) Bill.

FRIDAY, 25TH MARCH—Private Members' Motions.

Mr. Whiteley rose—

Mr. Crookshank

I think I may anticipate the question which the right hon. Gentleman is about to put, about the Adjournment for the Easter Recess. The House may like to know that it is proposed to adjourn for the Easter Recess on Thursday, 7th April, until Tuesday, 19th April, and that on that day my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer will open his Budget.

Mr. Whiteley

May I also ask the Leader of the House to note that on Tuesday we shall be moving a Motion during the debate on the genetic effects of nuclear explosions and that we shall take the Second Reading of the Consolidated Fund Bill formally.

Mr. Renton

Has my right hon. Friend seen the Motion, signed by over 100 hon. Members, asking the Government to ease the flow of emigrants from the United Kingdom to certain countries in the Commonwealth? Will he consider giving Government time of at least half-a-day to the discussion of that Motion?

Mr. Crookshank

I am very sorry to disappoint my hon. and learned Friend, but I have not half-a-day to give him at present. If there are 100 names to the Motion, it may well be that one of those hon. Members will be lucky in the Private Members' Ballot.

Lieut-Colonel Lipton

In view of the fact that Government business seems to be petering out, will the right hon. Gentleman reconsider the possibility of finding time to discuss a Motion in my name relating to a cut in the price of petrol? If he could find time for that before the Easter Recess, he might save a lot of time during the Budget debate.

Mr. Crookshank

We are far from "petering out." I do not know about hon. Members opposite.

Mr. Ian Harvey

Will my right hon. Friend consider giving time for a debate on Parliamentary absenteeism?

Mr. Roy Jenkins

Is the right hon. Gentleman expecting to complete the Committee stage of the Children and Young Persons (Harmful Publications) Bill in half a day?

Mr. Crookshank

No, Sir; I do not think that is a very likely event, but I hope that we shall make considerable progress.

Mr. Follick

Will the right hon. Gentleman give some consideration to the Decimal Currency Bill?

Mr. Crookshank

That has already been considered.