BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE (Hansard, 27 July 1967)

§ Mr. Heath
May I ask the Leader of the House to state the business of the House for the first week after the Recess?

§ The Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons (Mr. Richard Crossman)
It is proposed that the House should resume after the Summer Adjournment on Monday, 23rd October, when the business will be as follows:
MONDAY, 23RD OCTOBER—In the morning—
Debate on a topic to be selected by the Liberals.
In the afternoon—
Concideration of Lords Amendments to the Dangerous Drugs Bill.
TUESDAY, 24TH OCTOBER—Second Reading of the Sea Fisheries (Shellfish) Bill [Lords] and of the Sea Fish (Conservation) Bill [Lords], which are consolidation Measures.
Consideration of Lords Amendments to the Leasehold Reform Bill.
WEDNESDAY, 25TH OCTOBER—In the morning—
Remaining stages of the Sea Fisheries (Shellfish) Bill [Lords] and of the Sea Fish (Conservation) Bill [Lords].
982 Consideration of Lords Amendments to the Countryside (Scotland) Bill.
Debate on Northern Ireland Affairs. In the afternoon—
Consideration of Lords Amendments to the Medical Termination of Pregnancy Bill.
THURSDAY, 26TH OCTOBER—
Debate on the Report of the Tribunal of Inquiry on the Aberfan Disaster.
Motions on the Farm Amalgamations and Boundary Adjustment Scheme and on the Farm Structure (Payments to Out-goers') Scheme.
It is expected that the House will prorogue on Friday, 27th October, and that the new Session will be opened on Tuesday, 31st October.

§ Mr. Shinwell
Mr. Speaker, I understand that it is in order to ask a question at this stage.

§ Mr. Speaker
It is quite in order for the right hon. Gentleman to ask questions. All I was going to observe was that we have an important debate ahead of us, and I hope therefore, that right hon. and hon. Members will forgo the luxury of business questions as far as they can.

§ Mr. Shinwell
I want to put a very important question to my right hon. Friend. He has announced to the House that when we resume in the morning of 23rd October there is to be an innovation, and that one of the political parties in the House is to initiate a debate on a subject about which we have not yet been informed. This will be a great attraction and I want to know whether there will be a charge for admission.

§ Mr. Crossman
In view of the success that we had on the first occasion, which my right hon. Friend does not seem to have noticed, I will certainly consider his suggestion very seriously.

§ Mr. Gibson-Watt
May I ask an important question? There are now three outstanding matters of Welsh importance—the economic White Paper, the Local Government White Paper and the Aberfan Inquiry which we are to discuss on Thursday, 26th October. Can the right hon. Gentleman say when we shall discuss the two other important matters?

§ Mr. Crossman
I think that is a very reasonable question. We had one day on Welsh affairs. Of course, I do not count this as a Welsh affairs day. This is a matter of national importance and it means postponing the Welsh affairs debate. We shall have it as soon as possible.

§ Mr. Tapsell
Is the fact that the Government have given the first free kick after the Recess to the Liberal Party a sign of their anxieties of the disasters which may overtake them during the Recess?

§ Mr. Speaker
Order. I did ask hon. Members to forgo the luxury of questions. If they do not forgo them, I hope that questions will be real ones.

§ Mr. Tapsell
On a point of order, Mr. Speaker. With great respect, I would suggest that although my question may have been somewhat frivolously phrased it contained within it a most serious political point. I suggest, Sir, that this decision has been taken by the Government after the most careful consideration for very serious political reasons.

§ Mr. Speaker
This is wasting further time.

§ Mr. Crossman
I thank the hon. Gentleman for his keen interest in this matter. I simply say that the problem of the position of the third party and its right to select subjects for debate is a serious question which we are considering through the usual channels. Meanwhile, the Government decided to give some Government time for this purpose.