HC Deb 24 November 1965 vol 721 cc509-10
35. Mr. Hamilton

asked the Lord President of the Council whether, in order to provide for full debate, he will seek to arrange for the Orders arising from the Southern Rhodesia Bill to be taken at morning sittings of the House.

The Lord President of the Council (Mr. Herbert Bowden)

No, Sir. I think that the arrangements already made for these Orders today will meet the convenience of the House.

Mr. Hamilton

Why is my right hon. Friend so conservative in these and other matters? Is he aware that the Opposition have made complaints about these Orders and asked for assurances that they should be debated at reasonable hours? Is he further aware that there are eight of these Orders for debate today which means that some of them, anyhow, will be debated into the very early hours of tomorrow morning? Will he not reconsider this position so that everyone who wishes to take part in this debate may have a reasonable opportunity of expressing his views on them, and will he not accept that this surely means morning sittings?

Mr. Bowden

I understand that Her Majesty's Opposition are in agreement that these Orders shall be taken today, as tabled. As far as my conservative views are concerned regarding morning sittings, I would remind the House that to decide whether to sit in the morning would need a full day's debate in the House.