HC Deb 19 December 1957 vol 580 cc612-4
Mr. J. Griffiths

May I ask the Lord Privy Seal whether he will state the business for the first week after the Recess?

The Secretary of State for the Home Department and Lord Privy Seal (Mr. R. A. Butler)

Yes, Sir. The business for the first week after the Christmas Recess will be as follows:

TUESDAY, 21ST JANUARY—Third Reading of the Isle of Man Bill.

Second Reading of the Cayman Islands and Turks and Caicos Islands Bill.

Second Reading of the Overseas Service Bill.

Committee stage of the necessary Money Resolution.

Third Reading of the New Towns Bill.

Committee stage of the Post Office and Telegraph (Money) Bill.

WEDNESDAY, 22ND JANUARY—Second Reading of the Opencast Coal Bill.

Committee stage of the necessary Money Resolution.

We hope that there will then be an opportunity to debate the methods by which Private Bills are objected to.

THURSDAY, 23RD JANUARY—Second Reading of the Overseas Resources Development Bill.

Committee stage of the necessary Money Resolution.

Second Reading of the British Nationality Bill [Lords], which is expected to be received from another place today.

Remaining stages of the Post Office and Telegraph (Money) Bill.

FRIDAY, 24TH JANUARY—Consideration of Private Members' Bills.

Mr. Griffiths

With reference to the Second Reading of the Overseas Service Bill, which is to be dealt with on Tuesday, 21st January, is the right hon. Gentleman aware that many hon. Members will want to participate in the debate, as the Bill raises very important issues? May we take it that adequate time will be given to the debate?

Secondly, in the event of the Tribunal which is now sitting at Church House having presented its Report to Parliament, will the right hon. Gentleman be prepared to consider an adjustment of business for the first week after the Recess so that the House may have an opportunity of discussing whatever the Tribunal reports? Does he not agree that it is important to provide that opportunity?

Mr. Butler

I think that we must consider that point when we know the date of publication of the Report—but when my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister returns I shall certainly discuss with him the point raised by the deputy Leader of the Opposition.

Mr. W. R. Williams

Last week, I asked the Leader of the House whether he had anything to report in connection with the Motion standing on the Order Paper dealing with unestablished service reckoning for pension in the Civil Service.

[That this House takes note of the recent Report of the Royal Commission on the Civil Service (Command Paper No. 9613) and the observations of the Commission in Chapter XV, paragraph 743, on the subject of the reckoning of unestablished service for superannuation purposes in the Civil Service, to the effect that there is no question of merit or principle outstanding, that it is in fact now common ground that it is right that unestablished service should reckon in full, that Parliament conceded that as regards service after July, 1949, by the Superannuation Act, 1949, that the Royal Commission were of opinion that the Superannuation Act, 1946, afforded a precedent for retrospection and supported the argument that if a certain treatment is right at one point in time it is also right at others, and that in the view of the Royal Commission the sole consideration was that of cost; and this House is of opinion that all unestablished service prior to July, 1949, of civil servants subsequently appointed to established posts should be reckonable in full for superannuation purposes (instead of one-half only) on the grounds put forward by the Right honourable Gentleman, the Member for Monmouth, in his speech to Standing Committee B on the Superannuation Bill, 1949 (Hansard, 10th May, 1949, Cols. 155–8), and calls upon Her Majesty's Government to take the necessary action.]

The Leader of the House then said that he would deal with the matter and make representations to the Minister concerned. Has the right hon. Gentleman done so? If so, what has been the result?

Mr. Butler

I have certainly done so, but I cannot report any result.

Mr. Ross

When we return, will the Leader of the House undertake to ensure that Government spokesmen who introduce Motions will not leave their places as soon as they have made their speeches, to the disadvantage of the House and without apology and explanation, but will stay and give the House the benefit of their knowledge of the subject?

Mr. Butler

Yes, Sir. I will attempt to make that of personal application.