HC Deb 27 June 1957 vol 572 cc423-5
Mr. Gaitskell

May I ask the Leader of the House whether he will state 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, 1ST JULY AND TUESDAY, 2ND JULY—We shall resume the Committee stage of the Finance Bill.

WEDNESDAY, 3RD JULY—It is hoped to conclude the Committee stage of the Finance Bill by 7 o'clock.

The House is no doubt aware that the Deputy Chairman of Ways and Means has already set down an opposed Private Bill—the Liverpool Corporation Bill [Lords]—for consideration at 7 o'clock on that evening.

Consideration of the Motion to approve the White Fish and Herring Industries (Conversion Grants) Scheme.

THURSDAY, 4TH JULY—Report stage of the Coal Mining (Subsidence) Bill.

Committee and remaining stages of the Winfrith Heath Bill.

FRIDAY, 5TH JULY—Conclusion of the Report stage of the Coal Mining (Subsidence) Bill, if not already concluded, and Third Reading.

We then hope to obtain the Second Reading of the Army Enlistment Bill, and of the Tanganyika Agricultural Corporation Bill, for which Bill a Money Resolution is also necessary.

In addition to the business already announced, we hope it will be agreeable to the House to take tonight the Committee and remaining stages of the Superannuation Bill.

Mr. Gaitskell

I understand that the remaining stages of the Superannuation Bill are almost entirely formal and, as the Bill is urgently required, the Opposition are prepared to agree to the right hon. Gentleman's proposal on it.

Mr. Butler

I am very much obliged to the right hon. Gentleman.

Mrs. Jeger

In view of the fact that the safety and lives of many of our folk in Cyprus are dependent upon the continuance of the uneasy truce in the island, may I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether he can say when the House can have an opportunity to discuss a more permanent solution to this grievous problem?

Mr. Butler

As the hon. Lady knows, there was an interchange at Question Time with my right hon. Friend the Colonial Secretary, but I realise that there is anxiety on this matter in the House. All I can do is to undertake to discuss it with my right hon. Friend.

Mr. Hamilton

Can the right hon. Gentleman give any assurance that the Government will find time between now and the Summer Recess for some debate, whether a full or a half-day, on the United Nations Report on events in Hungary late last year?

Mr. Butler

I cannot give any undertaking, but I will make a note of what the hon. Member has said.

Mr. Blenkinsop

Will any arrangement be made for the House to discuss the very important Royal Commission Report on Mental Illness and Mental Deficiency?

Mr. Butler

I do not know whether we shall have time before we rise in August, but this is a matter on which we are at present consulting. It is of the utmost importance. I will bear in mind that the House must have an opportunity of considering it before there is any question of the Government having to make up their mind on action.

Mr. Gower

In view of the fact that there has been a period of greater stability in the cost of living in recent months, may I ask my right hon. Friend whether there will be an opportunity at an early date to discuss the increase in coal charges and the possibility of increases in postal charges, which have come as a great shock to public opinion?

Mr. Butler

I will make a note of that, also.

Mr. Fernyhough

Can the Leader of the House say when the necessary legislation to give Parliamentary sanction to the increases of pay which the judges are already receiving is to be brought before the House? What is causing the delay?

Mr. Butler

I cannot give an exact date, but I have it in mind.

Mr. Nabarro

Will my right hon. Friend—

Mr. Speaker

Order. The hon. Member started to speak before he was called.

Mr. Nabarro

If I did so, Mr. Speaker, I humbly apologise. There was so much noise going on on the Front Bench opposite. May I start the question again?

My right hon. Friend the Leader of the House will recall that I asked him, fourteen days ago, whether it would be possible to have a debate this year, within a reasonable time of the publication of the Report and Accounts of the National Coal Board, instead of waiting for a period of six or eight months before the debate took place. Can my right hon. Friend say, therefore, whether the three days allotted to the nationalised industries will form the subject of debate before we rise in August?

Mr. Butler

There will be a real difficulty in fitting in a day and we must try to see what can be done. I realise that my hon. Friend wishes to consider this matter in relation to the publication of the Report and not too late. Further than that I cannot go today.

Mr. Shinwell

Do I understand from the reply that the Leader of the House gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Jarrow (Mr. Fernyhough) about judges' salaries that these gentlemen are receiving the increases of salary arranged for them without the necessary legislation? Does not that mean that this is an illegal act? If so, ought not the Government to be indemnified for having provided increases of salary without legislation? What is the cause of this? If that can be arranged in the case of judges, could it not be arranged for hon. Members, who are rather more impoverished?

Mr. Speaker

That may be a very important matter, but it is not a question on next week's business.