HC Deb 19 April 1956 vol 551 cc1179-82
Mr. Gaitskell

May I ask the Lord Privy Seal whether he will state the business for next week?

The Lord Privy Seal (Mr. R. A. Butler)

Yes, Sir. The business for next week will be as follows:

MONDAY, 23RD APRIL—Conclusion of the general Debate on the Budget Proposals and the Economic Situation.

TUESDAY, 24TH APRIL—Supply [10th Allotted Day]: It is proposed to move Mr. Speaker out of the Chair on Civil Estimates and Estimates for Revenue Departments, 1956–57.

My hon. Friend the Member for Westmorland (Mr. Vane) will call attention to the problems of transport in rural areas.

WEDNESDAY, 25TH APRIL—Report stage of the Budget Resolutions.

We propose to set apart the rest of the sitting for the Committee stage of the Death Penalty (Abolition) Bill.

THURSDAY, 26TH APRIL—Committee stage of the Restrictive Trade Practices Bill.

FRIDAY, 27TH APRIL—Consideration of Private Members' Motions.*

Mr. Gaitskell

In view of the importance of the freight charges increases Regulations, will the Lord Privy Seal arrange for extra time to be available for their discussion over and above the normal one-and-half hours provided for Prayers?

Mr. Butler

Yes, Sir. We will certainly discuss that through the usual channels.

Mr. Peyton

Would my right hon. Friend consider the desirability of giving some time to the discussion of the adequacy of our information services in the Middle East, in view of the very great concern which has been expressed on this subject? *[For "Motions" read "Bills"; see c. 1178.]

Mr. Butler

Whether or not we can provide adequate time, I can assure my hon. Friend that we are aware of the importance of this subject. His point will certainly have consideration.

Mr. Ede

The right hon. Gentleman said that next Friday would be for Private Members' Motions. I thought that next Friday was for Private Members' Bills.

Mr. Butler

Yes, the right hon. Gentleman is nearly always right about Parliamentary procedure. It so happens that the typescript from which I was reading says "Motions" It should have read "Private Members' Bills"

Mr. Shinwell

Can the right hon. Gentleman give an assurance that at an early date we shall have an opportunity of discussing the situation in the Middle East?

Mr. Butler

I think we had better consider that. I know the right hon. Gentleman feels that he has no influence upon the course of business, but I can assure him that his previous intervention, and the importance of the issues he raised, has not gone unremembered.

Mr. W. Yates

Will my right hon. Friend consider finding Government time for discussion of the ratification of the International Red Cross Convention of Geneva, in 1949, which has been signed and ratified by the Soviet Union, France and the United States, but not by Her Majesty's Government?

Mr. Butler

Yes, Sir. I will give consideration to my hon. Friend's point.

Mr. H. Wilson

Would the right hon. Gentleman tell us upon what Estimates it is proposed to move Mr. Speaker out of the Chair on Tuesday? Are they the Estimates that have been published and laid before the House, or Estimates we shall need to have when the Chancellor finishes swinging his axe?

Mr. Butler

We are behaving in this matter in the entirely orthodox manner. The Estimates are those which have been published.

Mr. S. Silverman

Having regard to the fact that, even when full allowance has been made for the very considerable amount of overlapping, there is still a considerable number of Amendments to the Death Penalty (Abolition) Bill on the Notice Paper, can the right hon. Gentleman say whether it is the Government's intention to advise the House to suspend the Standing Order relating to the length of sittings and, if so, for how long?

Mr. Butler

Yes, Sir. What we have in mind is to suspend the rule for two hours, so as to give a definite time and not entail an all-night sitting.

Mr. Harold Davies

Will the House have an opportunity in the very near future to discuss the February Price Review and the state of British agriculture?

Mr. Butler

There seems to be a general level of acceptance of the Price Review. [HON. MEMBERS: "No."] I speak as a life-long agricultural Member, but if that is not the case I suggest that hon. and right hon. Members opposite have an opportunity of choosing that subject for a Supply Day.

Mr. Gaitskell

Is not the right hon. Gentleman aware that he is completely in error in supposing that there is any acceptance of the recent Price Review? Is he further aware that we shall take an early opportunity of discussing this matter as well as the important subject of technical education?

Mr. Butler

We shall be very glad to discuss both matters, because on both we have an unassailable case.

Mr. Page

Can my right hon. Friend say when we may expect to have the Report stage of the Road Traffic Bill, which started a long time before the Death Penalty (Abolition) Bill, and which has been lingering in and out of Standing Committee for some time?

Mr. Butler

There is an aspect of traffic which is common both to road traffic and to legislation, namely, that there is a degree of congestion. When we clear that congestion we will take the Bill.

Mr. Blenkinsop

Does the right hon. Gentleman recollect that he has not yet announced the day on which we can discuss the Report of the Guillebaud Committee, which is specially important because of the threatened cuts by the Government in the Health Service?

Mr. Butler

The latter part of the hon. Member's statement is a matter for his own discretion. As to the Guillebaud Committee's Report, if right hon. and hon. Members opposite so desire they can certainly choose this subject for a Supply Day.

Mr. Blenkinsop

Is the right hon. Gentleman not aware that this is a matter of very considerable importance to the country? That being so, should not the Government themselves provide the time?

Mr. Butler

The Government have a good deal to provide time for.

Lieut.-Colonel Lipton

Do time for.

Mr. S. Silverman

Among the matters the Government should provide time for, does the right hon. Gentleman include the further progress of the Industrial Rating Bill, which got through Standing Committee yesterday?

Mr. Butler

That is a Private Member's Bill, and when we consider it we shall see what we shall do.