§ Mr. G. BrownMay I ask the Patronage Secretary, in the absence of the Leader of the House, if he has any statement to make on the change of business for next week?
§ The Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury (Mr. Martin Redmayne)Yes, Sir. Discussions have taken place through the usual channels and the following change of business is proposed for Tuesday and Wednesday of next week:
Tuesday, 21st March—At the request of the Opposition, it is proposed to take the Second Reading of the Consolidated Fund (No. 2) Bill formally and then debate an Opposition Motion relating to the Minister of Transport's statement on the British Transport Commission.
Wednesday, 22nd March—Second Reading of the Sierra Leone Independence Bill, and in view of the urgency of this Bill we shall ask the House to take the Committee and remaining stages, which it is hoped to obtain by Six o'clock.
1912 The Adjournment of the House will then be moved for a debate on the withdrawal of the Union of South Africa from the Commonwealth. In order to meet the general convenience of the House, it is proposed to suspend the Rule for one hour.
Thereafter we shall consider the Motions to approve the Draft Police Pensions (Amendment) Regulations for England and Wales, and similar Regulations for Scotland.
The Consideration of the Criminal Justice Bill will not now be taken next week.
§ Mr. BrownMay I just say to the Patronage Secretary that we are grateful to him, of course, for having met our request for a suspension of the Rule on Wednesday by one hour, and may I also commend to him this improved pattern and hope that he will continue it instead of the other way round as he has been doing recently?