§ The Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons (Mr. Richard Crossman)I wish to inform the House of the changed arrangements for tomorrow, Wednesday and Thursday.
It is proposed that on Tuesday a debate should be opened on a Government Motion relating to the Economic Situation and that the debate should be brought to a conclusion on Wednesday, the 3rd allotted Supply day.
The business for Thursday will be the Second Reading of the Administration of 953 Justice Bill and of the Trustee Savings Banks Bill.
§ Mr. ShinwellMay I ask my right hon. Friend a question on business? Last Thursday, I ventured to ask him whether it was the intention of the Government to put down a Motion in relation to the fuel White Paper, either to approve the Government's policy or to take note of it. Would my right hon. Friend—
§ Mr. SpeakerOrder. We are not taking that this week. It will better, surely, on the Business Statement on Thursday.
§ Mr. ShinwellWith respect, Mr. Speaker, you will tell me if I am not in order, but I am referring to business.
As my right hon. Friend has announced a change in business, I want to ask him whether he will make another change, because I understand that after I asked my question on business last Thursday the Government decided that the White Paper will be submitted to the House next Monday and that the House will be asked to approve it. I wanted to suggest to my right hon. Friend that instead of approving the White Paper the House should take note of it. Will my right hon. Friend consider my suggestion?
§ Mr. CrossmanThe statement which I have just made was about business for this week, but I will certainly bear in mind my right hon. Friend's suggestion that we should change what we have already announced concerning the Government's attitude to the White Paper.
§ Several Hon. Members rose—
§ Mr. SpeakerOrder. I hope that business questions will arise out of the statement.
§ Lord BalnielIs the Leader of the House aware that discussion on the Family Allowances and National Insurance Bill, which involves an increase in taxation of £120 million, was to be taken today and was postponed until next Thursday so that the Government could put down Amendments? It has now been postponed, apparently indefinitely. When will the Bill be taken? Are we to understand that the Amendments are drafting Amendments or are connected with the economic situation?
§ Mr. CrossmanI think that the second assumption would be correct. I suggest 954 that the hon. Gentleman awaits my statement about next week's business.
§ Mr. LiptonAs a large number of hon. Members will no doubt wish to take part in the debate tomorrow and on Wednesday, will my right hon. Friend consider the possibility of a little extra time tomorrow night?
§ Mr. CrossmanWe can always consider such possibilities as we go along.
§ Miss Joan QuennellWill the Leader of the House say whether the proposals made by the Chancellor of the Exchequer in his statement—particularly the S.E.T. alterations—will involve fresh legislation?
§ Mr. CrossmanI am discussing business. That is a matter which can be raised in the debate.
§ Sir C. OsborneI support the plea made by the hon. Member for Brixton (Mr. Lipton). As many hon. Members on both sides of the House will obviously wish to take part in the debate tomorrow and on Wednesday, could it be extended until midnight tomorrow?
§ Mr. CrossmanMy impression, judging from the number of hon. Members who rose today, is that an extension until midnight would not be sufficient. I suggest that we look at this matter and discuss it through the usual channels, because I want to act to the satisfaction of the House as a whole.
Mr. J. T. PriceThe question of fuel and power has been displaced from the agenda by the announcement made by my right hon. Friend. As a great many hon. Members on this side of the House will wish to make critical observations about the policy announced by the Government and will no doubt take the opportunity of doing so by interpolating comments during the debate tomorrow and on Wednesday, may I have an assurance that we shall have on the Front Bench my right hon. Friend the Minister of Fuel and Power to give an adequate answer to the questions which are bound to be raised?
§ Mr. CrossmanMy hon. Friend has forgotten that the business which we were to have had for this week did not relate to fuel and power at all. I announced last Thursday that next Monday we 955 should start to debate the fuel White Paper—not today, tomorrow and Thursday.
§ Mr. Bruce-GardyneCan the Leader of the House give us an assurance that the Prime Minister will take part in the debate, as many of us are getting a little nauseated by the way that he tries to hide behind the personality of the Chancellor of the Exchequer?
§ Mr. CrossmanI do not think that it will have surprised anybody on this side of the House to hear that my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister will take part. It might be for the convenience of the House if I state the present intention. It is that my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade should open the debate, that my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary should wind up tomorrow, that my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister should speak first on our side on the second day, and that my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer will wind up.
§ Several Hon. Members rose—
§ Mr. SpeakerOrder. Mr. Michael Stewart.