HC Deb 11 November 1965 vol 720 cc365-8
The Lord President of the Council (Mr. Herbert Bowden)

In view of the Prime Minister's statement, the business for next week will be as follows:

The debate on the Gracious Speech which was to have been continued on MONDAY, 15TH NOVEMBER, will be postponed until TUESDAY and brought to a conclusion on WEDNESDAY, 17TH NOVEMBER.

MONDAY, 15TH NOVEMBER—The House will be asked to approve the stages of the Rhodesia Enabling Bill and, if there is time, Second Reading of the Housing (Slum Clearance Compensation) Bill.

At the end of the debate on TUESDAY, 16TH NOVEMBER, Motion on the London Transport Board (Borrowing Powers) Order.

At the end of the debate on WEDNESDAY, 17TH NOVEMBER, Motions on the Census of Distribution (1967) (Restriction on Disclosure) Order and on the Anti-Dumping Order.

THURSDAY, 18TH NOVEMBER—Second Reading of the Pensions (Increase) Bill and of the Expiring Laws Continuance Bill.

FRIDAY, 19TH NOVEMBER—Second Reading of the Teachers' Superannuation Bill and of the Workmen's Compensation and Benefit (Amendment) Bill.

MONDAY, 22ND NOVEMBER—The business proposed is Second Reading of the Air Corporations Bill.

Mr. Heath

May I ask the Leader of the House whether, in the statement which the Attorney-General will make tomorrow, the House will be given as full an explanation as possible of the existing legal situation as a result of U.D.I., as well as the actions which Her Majesty's Government propose to take in the Rhodesia Enabling Bill? As we are to debate Rhodesia tomorrow, would the right hon. Gentleman give an assurance that at a future date—not next week but, perhaps, the week after that—we will have a debate on foreign affairs?

Mr. Bowden

To answer the right hon. Gentleman's first question, the Attorney-General will be making a statement tomorrow and he will make it as full as possible to meet the points raised by the right hon. Gentleman. To answer his second question, about a foreign affairs debate, we will certainly have a full discussion of foreign affairs. I cannot promise it for the week following, but it will be as early as possible before the Christmas Recess.

Mr. Thorpe

Would the right hon. Gentleman explain why it is necessary to wait four days before an Enabling Bill in respect of Rhodesia is brought before the House? Are we not to assume that legislation had already been prepared, well in advance, against the possibility of this event? Bearing in mind the determination of the Government, which I applaud, to show that we are anxious to take swift and effective action, would it not be better to have the Rhodesia Enabling Bill introduced on Saturday, rather than to allow the English weekend to take priority?

Mr. Bowden

Whilst it is perfectly true that some of the provisions of the Bill have been arranged for some time, on the other hand certain of its provisions have been agreed only this morning. The Bill will be presented, I hope, tomorrow and the Government feel that the House should have an opportunity of looking at it over the weekend. It is for that reason that the Government feel that it would be in keeping with the suggestion of the Opposition that we debate Rhodesia tomorrow on the Gracious Speech and come to the Enabling Bill on Monday, having had a background debate beforehand.

Mr. Ronald Bell

The Leader of the House has said that the Bill will be presented tomorrow. Can he say when it will be printed and published and, therefore, available to hon. Members? Will they get it before the weekend? Secondly, will its terms be in any way restrictive of Monday's debate? If they will be, so that Monday's debate will not be of a general character, will the right hon. Gentleman bear in mind that throughout these long and momentous negotiations this House had no opportunity of discussing them? Will he, therefore, consider suspending the rule for an hour tomorrow?

Mr. Bowden

No, Sir. I think that tomorrow's debate should take place in the normal way on the Gracious Speech on a Friday and finish at the ordinary time. Everything possible is being done to get the Bill ready for presentation to the House. It is almost certain that it will be ready in the morning for hon. Members to see it over the weekend.

As to the debate on Monday, it is hoped that the House will agree to reach a conclusion on the Bill at a reasonable hour so that another place can have the Bill and the Royal Assent can be given on the same day, which, as the House will appreciate, is absolutely essential with a Bill of this sort.

It must be remembered that it is only an Enabling Bill, after which Orders have to be laid before the House which will require the affirmative approval of both Houses of Parliament before they become operative.

Mr. Eldon Griffiths

Is the Leader of the House aware that many hon. Members on the back benches will want to speak on this subject? While I appreciate the need to send the Bill to another place, may I ask whether it is not possible for the right hon. Gentleman to consider at least extending the time by an hour on Monday evening so that further hon. Members may offer their views? This is a matter of great importance and I cannot believe that an hour would not be vouchsafed by the Government.

Mr. Bowden

I am anxious to help the House in this matter. I think that the major debate will be the general debate tomorrow rather than the debate on the enabling Bill. [Interruption.] If It is the wish of the House, we might discuss this through the usual channels; we could probably have an hour's suspension for the general debate. It is, however, important that the Enabling Bill on Monday should get to another place at a reasonable hour.

Mr. Heath

So that there should not be any misunderstanding on this important matter, may I ask whether I heard the right hon. Gentleman aright in saying that the Orders would require affirmative approval before they became operative?

Mr. Bowden

If I said that, I am sorry; that is not the position. The Orders become operative at once, but there will be an opportunity within 28 days during which time both Houses are required to approve them.

Mr. Peter Emery

Can the Leader of the House assure us that one of the Ministers who speaks tomorrow will spell out exactly some of the consequences of the exchange control position? The House will obviously want to know the position concerning British citizens—presumably, all those people who are still in Rhodesia—who have balances in this country and the effect of the financial regulations upon them.

Mr. Bowden

Yes, that is the intention of the Minister.

Mr. William Hamilton

Will details of the negotiations to which my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister has referred be available tomorrow in time for the debate?

Mr. Bowden

My latest information is that there is doubt whether this information will be available tomorrow. Again, it is a question of printing. Much of the material has already been set up. As soon as possible, however, a White Paper will be laid containing the full exchanges of the present Government and of Her Majesty's former Administration with Rhodesia.

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