HC Deb 21 February 1957 vol 565 cc597-601
Mr. Gaitskell

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

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

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

MONDAY, 25TH FEBRUARY—Supply [3rd Allotted Day].

Committee stage of the Civil Vote on Account, which it is proposed to take formally.

A debate will take place on an Opposition Motion relating to Retirement Pensions and National Assistance Scales.

TUESDAY, 26TH FEBRUARY—Committee stage of the House of Commons Disqualification Bill.

Committee and remaining stages of the Public Trustee (Fees) Bill [Lords].

WEDNESDAY, 27TH FEBRUARY—Second Reading of the Cinematograph Films Bill [Lords].

Committee stage of the necessary Money Resolution.

Third Reading of the Customs Duties (Dumping and Subsidies) Bill.

THURSDAY, 28TH FEBRUARY—Debate on the Report and Accounts of the National Coal Board for 1955.

FRIDAY, 1ST MARCH—Consideration of Private Members' Bills.

Mr. H. Wilson

Since the Government have now published a White Paper on the European Common Market, and, in view of the anxieties felt, I think, in all parts of the House that some of the safeguards mentioned in the recent debate by hon. Members may have been lost sight of in the recent negotiations in Paris, would the Lord Privy Seal undertake to provide Government time for a debate on the White Paper on the European Common Market, so enabling the Chancellor of the Exchequer to give the House a full account of what went on in the negotiations in Paris?

Mr. Butler

The subject is, of course, of great importance to the House. We are now at a time of year when the business is very congested, and I cannot give an absolute undertaking about Government time; but I will give an undertaking that we will discuss this through the usual channels.

Mr. H. Fraser

Would my right hon. Friend consider the chance of an early foreign affairs debate, because some of the statements made in America recently are thoroughly objectionable, I believe, to most hon. Members in the House? I believe that the suggestion of forcing Israel back without proper guarantees for her future is not acceptable to most hon. Members.

Mr. Butler

That matter, also, will be considered by my right hon. Friends and myself. My right hon. and learned Friend the Foreign Secretary returns tonight from his visit to Portugal, and I will discuss this matter with him.

Mr. G. Brown

In view of the Government's piecemeal announcements about defence proposals, can the Lord Privy Seal now say when we are likely to have the Defence White Paper and the subsequent debate upon it?

Mr. Butler

I cannot give the exact date, but it will be towards the end of the coming month. The question of a debate must be considered in the light of the date of the publication of the Defence White Paper, which will be produced directly it is ready.

Mr. Nabarro

May I allude to Thursday's business, the debate on the National Coal Board? Is it not a fact that it will be extraordinarily difficult to discuss the affairs of the Coal Board, and the massive capital investment involved, without the long-awaited statement on Government policy on atomic energy? As this matter has been pressed from both sides of the House almost weekly since the beginning of December, will it be possible for the statement to be made before the debate on the Coal Board?

Mr. Butler

I have all the previous references to requests for this debate, but I cannot give an absolute undertaking. I can only tell my hon. Friend that this is one of the days set aside for discussion of nationalised industries. I realise that it will be important to discuss this matter against the background of the development of atomic power, but I cannot give an undertaking that the full policy will be announced by that date.

Mr. Bellenger

In view of the right hon. Gentleman's reply to my right hon. Friend the Member for Belper (Mr. G. Brown), that the Defence White Paper will be delayed, does it not necessarily follow that the Service Estimates themselves will also be delayed and, therefore, increase the congestion of business at this time of year? Will the right hon. Gentleman say whether the Service Estimates will come forward in the normal course, as in previous years, or whether they will have to await publication of the Defence White Paper?

Mr. Butler

We have been into this in some detail with right hon. Gentlemen opposite, through the usual channels, when giving an account to the Leader of the Opposition of how we thought the days would fall out. Perhaps the right hon. Gentleman will discuss with his right hon. Friend the information that we have given in detail. I, too, shall be ready to do so, if that is desired.

Mr. Patrick Maitland

While thanking my right hon. Friend for undertaking to discuss with the Foreign Secretary the possibility of an early foreign affairs debate, may I remind him that there is very great anxiety about the events of the last 24 hours, events which include a statement from a Foreign Office spokesman which is apparently in contradiction to what the Foreign Secretary said on 11th February? There is very great anxiety about the events of the coming week-end and a possible decision which may have to be taken. Will my right hon. Friend consider this with his right hon. and learned Friend the Foreign Secretary when he returns?

Mr. Butler

The advantage of these interventions is that they enable us to be aware of the feeling which exists and of which we must take account, but I cannot go further than saying that I will discuss that with the Foreign Secretary and with the Prime Minister himself.

Mr. Peart

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that there is on the Order Paper a Motion on Commonwealth unity, which is signed by many hon. Members? When may we have a debate on that subject? It is urgent because we feel that we should know the policy of the Government on this matter and there may be a lead on it before the Prime Minister commits the country to any new European commitments.

[That this House, believing in the unity and strength of the British Commonwealth, calls upon Her Majesty's Government to initiate discussions with other Commonwealth Governments with a view to the setting up of a Commonwealth Council, comprising a Ministerial Committee and a Consultative Assembly, which would meet regularly to discuss problems affecting the political, economic and social development of the Commonwealth.]

Mr. Butler

The Prime Minister is well aware of the terms of that Motion, which I have before me. It will take some time to develop a policy on the European Free Trade Area and the House may be assured that views on Commonwealth unity will not be forgotten in the course of those discussions.

Mr. Bevan

To return to the question of a debate on foreign affairs, is the right hon. Gentleman aware that foreign affairs are now causing a considerable amount of anxiety? We have just heard from the Prime Minister that he is to discuss with our allies what proposals shall be agreed about the Middle East.

The Prime Minister

"What reply".

Mr. Bevan

A reply cannot be empty of proposals—I hope.

My point is that we are considerably embarrassed. The Government themselves took action in the Middle East without consulting the United States, so we are not now in a position to reproach President Eisenhower for making statements himself. Will the right hon. Gentleman nevertheless try to indicate to the United States that it is very undesirable that the United States should be issuing statements about policy without consulting its allies? Surely we ought to try to put an end to this anarchy as soon as possible.

Mr. Butler

It is very important, when answering business questions, not to commit myself or my right hon. Friends on subjects of Government policy. All I can do is to say that I will undertake to pay attention to the obvious feeling in the House on the foreign situation, and certain statements which have been made, and discuss the matter with the Prime Minister and the Foreign Secretary, when he returns tonight.

Mr. Shinwell

Does the right hon. Gentleman realise that even if, as alleged, Her Majesty's Government did make a mistake in the Middle East—I say, as alleged—that is no reason why the House should condone any mistake made by President Eisenhower? The sooner we have a debate on this subject, to clarify the issue, the better.