HC Deb 01 May 1958 vol 587 cc579-82
Mr. Gaitskell

May I ask the Lord Privy Seal 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, 5TH MAY, TUESDAY, 6TH MAY, and WEDNESDAY, 7TH MAY Report stage of the Local Government Bill.

At the end of business on Tuesday, it is proposed to ask the House to consider the Motion relating to the International Organisations (Immunities and Privileges of the Council of Europe) Order, and, at the end of business on Wednesday, the Motions to approve the Draft Tuberculosis (Extension of Payments Period) Order, and a similar Order for Scotland; and the Imported Livestock Order.

THURSDAY, 8TH MAY—Second Reading of the Finance Bill.

FRIDAY, 9TH MAY—Consideration of Private Members' Motions.

Mr. Gaitskell

Can the right hon. Gentleman give us an assurance that the Minister of Labour will keep the House fully informed on the bus dispute? In particular, will he arrange for his right hon. Friend to make a statement tomorrow, Friday, because that is the last possible Parliamentary time before the strike begins—if it is to begin?

Mr. Butler

I think that the whole House will understand the importance of the right hon. Gentleman's request. I shall certainly make a point of discussing it with my right hon. Friend immediately. I could not give an absolute assurance about tomorrow, but I will take note of the right hon. Gentleman's request.

Mr. W. Yates

Has my right hon. Friend seen the Motion on the Order Paper about an interim Constitution for Cyprus?

[That this House claims that the future status of the Island of Cyprus is the sole responsibility of Her Majesty's Government and the Cypriot people, and now calls upon Her Majesty's Government to present to the Secretary-General of the United Nations their proposals for the immediate self-government of the island under British and United Nations protection for minority rights, and guarantee of eventual self determination, and also urges Her Majesty's Government to enlist the support of the Secretary-General to secure the early implementation of these proposals, with the help and advice of Archbishop Makarios and the Mufti of Cyprus.]

Do the Government intend to give time for a debate on this matter before the Whitsun Recess? Is my right hon. Friend aware that some hon. Members feel that the Governor of Cyprus himself ought to be allowed to try to find a method of arriving at a peaceful solution, and that the Foreign Secretary should revert to looking after the interests of British subjects expelled from Egypt after the Suez action?

Mr. Speaker

Order. The hon. Member is going beyond the terms of his question on business in introducing a matter of politics.

Mr. Butler

In answer to the first part of my hon. Friend's question, a request was made for a statement about Cyprus before Whitsun——

Mr. Gaitskell

A debate.

Mr. Butler

The right hon. Gentleman says that it was for a debate. My hon. Friend has also made a request for a debate. I cannot guarantee to find time for a debate, but we are attempting to meet the request which has been made for a statement. I cannot go further than that today.

Mr. Beswick

Can the Lord Privy Seal say whether the Government are prepared to expose to the full scrutiny of public debate their refusal to agree to the suspension of nuclear weapons tests? Will he set aside a day for that purpose?

Mr. Butler

We are always ready to have any of our policies scrutinised in debate, and they usually emerge triumphant; but I cannot give the assurance that the hon. Member desires.

Mr. Grant-Ferris

Has my right hon. Friend considered giving time to debate the Report of the Select Committee on Obscene Publications?

Mr. Butler

We have enough trouble without that at the moment. I realise that the Report was made available on Thursday, 27th March, but I shall simply have to take note of my hon. Friend's request. We will have to study the Report.

Mr. Stonehouse

Has the Leader of the House seen the Motion on the Order Paper, signed by about 100 of my right hon. and hon. Friends, relating to the danger of arming Western Germany with tactical atomic arms

[That this House, recognising the widespread opposition both in this country and in the Federal Republic of Germany to the arming of the Bundeswehr with nuclear weapons, as shown by the statements of both the Social Democratic and the Free Democratic Parties, believes that Her Majesty's Government should oppose this proposal in the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation on the grounds that the arming of West German forces with nuclear weapons will make it more difficult to secure the disengagement of forces and the nuclear free zone in Central Europe on which the relaxation of tension between East and West will depend.]

If so, when does he expect to find time for a debate on foreign affairs, so that this matter can be discussed?

Mr. Butler

We had better make progress with the business that we propose for next week. I have the Motion before me. The matter to which it refers, together with many others of importance, will certainly be suitable for discussion at some time.