§ 11.4 a.m.
§ Mr. J. GriffithsI should like to ask the Lord Privy Seal whether he has a statement to make about the business of the House.
§ The Secretary of State for the Home Department and Lord Privy Seal (Mr. R. A. Butler)Yes, Sir. The House will recall that exchanges took place across the Floor of the House yesterday about the time to be devoted to the debate on the Report of the Bank Rate Inquiry.
The Government are still of the opinion that one day for this debate is adequate. The right hon. Gentleman the Leader of the Opposition asked that a Supply Day should be taken formally in order that a second day should be added for the debate on the Bank Rate Report. As Supply Days are at the disposal of the Opposition, this can be arranged.
It will not, however, be possible for a two-day debate on the Report of the Tribunal to take place next week and it is proposed that this debate should be held on Monday and Tuesday of the week after next, 3rd and 4th February.
This will mean a change in the business announced for Thursday of next week, which will be the first allotted Supply Day, when we shall take in Committee the four Civil Supplementary Estimates relating to Agriculture and Food Services. These Supplementary Estimates are contained in Paper No. 48 and were issued yesterday.
We shall ask the House to vote the money for these Supplementary Estimates.