HC Deb 24 March 1955 vol 538 cc2272-6
Mr. Attlee

May I ask the Lord Privy Seal 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, 28th MARCH—My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister will move a Motion for an Address to Her Majesty relating to the erection of a Memorial to the late Earl Lloyd-George of Dwyfor.

We shall resume the Committee stage of the Children and Young Persons (Harmful Publications) Bill, which it is hoped to conclude by about 7 o'clock; and then consider the Motion to approve the Transfer of Functions (Ministry of Food) Order.

TUESDAY, 29th MARCH—Report and Third Reading of the Crofters (Scotland) Bill, which it is hoped to obtain by about 7 o'clock.

Committee and remaining stages of the Pensions (India, Pakistan and Burma) Bill and the Isle of Man (Customs) Bill.

Motion to approve the Draft National Insurance (Industrial Injuries) (Colliery Workers Supplementary Scheme) Amendment Order.

WEDNESDAY, 30th MARCH—Report and Third Reading of the Requisitioned Houses and Housing (Amendment) Bill.

THURSDAY, 31st MARCH—Supply [10th Allotted Day].

It is proposed to move Mr. Speaker, out of the Chair on Civil Estimates and Estimates for Revenue Departments, 1955–56.

The hon. Member for Gateshead, East (Mr. Moody) will call attention to the need to bring the police forces up to full strength and improve their conditions of service.

FRIDAY, 1st APRIL—Private Members' Bills.

Today, we propose to ask the House to consider the Motion to refer the Food and Drugs (Scotland) Bill [Lords] to the Scottish Grand Committee for Second Reading. Discussions have taken place through the usual channels, and I hope that the proposal will be agreeable to the House.

Perhaps, Mr. Speaker, I may also refer to the Motion on a Privilege matter standing on the Order Paper in the name of the hon. Member for Maldon (Mr. Driberg) and other hon. Members.

[That the complaint of the hon. Member for Maldon regarding the action of the Deputy Assistant Chaplain General, Salisbury Plain District, in threatening the Reverend J. P. Stevenson, one of his subordinate chaplains, with a view to influencing proceedings in Parliament, be referred to the Committee of Privileges.]

I have considered this matter and suggest to the House that the Motion might well be agreed to without debate and referred to the Committee of Privileges. When the Committee has deliberated and made its Report, the House might then be in a better position to debate the matter should it wish to do so. If this proposal commends itself to the House, I will arrange for the Motion to be brought forward for discussion on an early day.

Mr. Attlee

It seems to me that the last two suggestions would meet the convenience of the House.

Mr. Roy Jenkins

May I ask the Leader of the House whether, having studied one of the leading articles in "The Times" today, he will find time for the Obscene Publications Bill, if necessary withdrawing the Children and Young Persons (Harmful Publications) Bill to do so?

Mr. Crookshank

I do not know about that. It does not follow that I have to read all the leading articles in "The Times. "The hon. Gentleman is, of course, referring to a Private Member's Bill which, I suppose, has to take its chance, like all other Private Members' Bills. We shall proceed with the business announced for today, which includes the Committee stage of the Children and Young Persons (Harmful Publications) Bill.

Mr. Woodburn

After the Prime Minister's performance today, can the Leader of the House tell us where the Conservatives got the idea that he was too old to do the job?

Mr. N. Macpherson

Will my right hon. Friend say whether it is the Government's intention to give time for a discussion on the agreement approved by Her Majesty's Government at the recent G.A.T.T. conference at Geneva?

Mr. Crookshank

That will, no doubt, come up for debate, but not next week.

Mr. Harold Davies

Can the Leader of the House tell us whether we are to have an opportunity of discussing the state of British agriculture before the Easter Recess?

Mr. Crookshank

I thought we did that two Fridays ago.

Mr. Robens

In view of the speech made by the hon. Member for Bournemouth, West (Mr. J. Eden) yesterday, alleging bribery by certain commercial interests to workmen by the provision of pensions schemes and other matters, is it intended that time will be provided for the Minister of Labour to make a statement on this very important matter?

Mr. Crookshank

I have every confidence in my right hon. and learned Friend. If at any time he thought it necessary or wise to make a statement, he would do so.

Mr. H. Morrison

Will the right hon. Gentleman say whether he has every confidence in his hon. Friend the Member for Bournemouth, West (Mr. J. Eden) and what he said yesterday? We want to know what the Government's view is.

Mr. Crookshank

It is not for me to distribute bouquets any more than the right hon. Gentleman does to some of his supporters.

Mr. Robens

Does not the Leader of the House realise the gravity of such a speech in trade union circles? Does he not feel that it is necessary that the Government should make their position perfectly clear through a statement by the Minister of Labour?

Mr. Crookshank

I am sure the position of the Government is perfectly clear in all these matters. As I have just said, I have every confidence in my right hon. and learned Friend to handle the problems which may arise affecting industrial matters within his purview.

Mr. Robens

Surely the Leader of the House must recognise the fact that the hon. Member for Bournemouth, West has a close relationship with a member of the Cabinet and that the public pay a great deal more attention than usual to what comes from a source like that? Again, I ask the Leader of the House whether he does not feel that it is important that the Government should make a statement on this matter through the Minister of Labour, or will he provide time for a debate so that we may discuss the whole subject?

Mr. Crookshank

I really do not think I can go any further, and I certainly cannot lend myself to any smear campaign.

Mr. Lewis

Is the Leader of the House aware that those of us who were present when the hon. Member for Bournemouth, West (Mr. J. Eden) made his speech challenged the Ministers on the Government Front Bench who were in charge of the matter under discussion and asked them to make a statement disowning their hon. Friend, but not one of the Ministers agreed to do that? Are we, therefore, to take it that the hon. Member for Bournemouth, West was, in fact, speaking on behalf of the Government Front Bench and that the Government Front Bench supported his statement?

Several Hon. Members rose—

Mr. Speaker

Order. We cannot carry the matter any further at this stage.