§ Sir Alec Douglas-HomeMay I ask the Leader of the House whether he will state the business of the House for the first week after the Easter Recess.
§ The Lord President of the Council (Mr. Herbert Bowden)Yes, Sir. The business for the first week after the Easter Recess will be as follows:
§ MONDAY, 26TH APRIL—Second Reading of the Redundancy Payments Bill.
§ TUESDAY, 27TH APRIL—Private Members' Motions until seven o'clock.
§ Afterwards, the remaining stages of the Teaching Council (Scotland) Bill.
1163§ WEDNESDAY, 28TH APRIL—Second Reading of the Commons Registration Bill [Lords].
§ Remaining stages of the Development of Inventions Bill.
§ THURSDAY, 29TH APRIL—Supply [15th Allotted Day]: Committee.
§ Debate on a subject to be announced later.
§ As the House is aware, the Chairman of Ways and Means has set down opposed Private Business for consideration at seven o'clock.
§ Afterwards, the remaining stages of the Firearms Bill.
§ FRIDAY, 30TH APRIL—Private Members' Motions.
§ MONDAY, 3RD MAY—proposed business will be: Second Reading of the Race Relations Bill, and the remaining stages of the Criminal Evidence Bill.
§ Sir D. RentonMay we take it that the Report stage of the Firearms Bill will start at a reasonable hour? Could the Leader of the House give us an undertaking about that and say what time it will start?
§ Mr. BowdenYes, Sir. It is hoped that the opposed Private Business down for 1164 that day will finish long before ten o'clock, which will give reasonable time for the Firearms Bill. The majority of Amendments to the Firearms Bill are to meet Opposition points. There should be reasonable time.
§ Mr. SharplesIs the Leader of the House aware that we appreciate that there may have to be a large number of Government Amendments to the Firearms Bill? As I informed the Home Secretary, we did not put down Amendments until the Government Amendments had been tabled, but there will be Opposition Amendments and the Report stage may take longer than he thinks.
§ Mr. BowdenWe shall watch the position, but I think that there will be a fair amount of time.