HC Deb 09 April 1970 vol 799 cc751-8
Mr. Heath

May I ask the Leader of the House whether he will state the business of the House for next week?

The Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons (Mr. Fred Peart)

Yes, Sir. The business for next week will be as follows:

MONDAY, 13TH APRIL—Debate on the Middle East, which will arise on a Motion for the Adjournment of the House.

Motions on the Price Stability of Imports Products (Eggs) Order, on the Eggs (Guaranteed Prices) Order and on the White Fish Authority (General Levy) Regulations Confirmatory Order.

TUESDAY, 14TH APRIL—My Right Hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer will open his Budget.

At seven o'clock, the Chairman of Ways and Means has named opposed Private Business for consideration.

WEDNESDAY, 15TH APRIL—Continuation of the Budget debate.

Ways and Means Resolution relating to National Health Service Contributions.

Motion relating to Sunday Cinematograph Entertainments in Ilkeston.

THURSDAY, 16TH APRIL—Continuation of the Budget debate.

FRIDAY, 17TH APRIL—Private Members' Bills.

MONDAY, 20TH APRIL—Conclusion of the Budget debate.

Mr. Heath

May I put three questions to the Leader of the House? First, with regard to Monday's business on the Middle East, can the right hon. Gentleman give the House an undertaking that the Prime Minister will take part, to deal with the reports in the Press today of the occasion on which he and the Foreign Secretary were overruled by the Cabinet on their proposal that the Navy should intervene between Israel and Egypt?

Second, is he aware that the Ways and Means Resolution included in Wednesday's business puts a further charge of £40 million on industry, which means a further charge in the prices explosion that is now going on, and that the House will want proper time to discuss it?

Third, can he undertake that the Prime Minister will, if the Question is not reached, make a statement next week about the working of the Winter Emergencies Committee, and whether he is proposing to set up an emergency committee to inquire into the failure of the Winter Emergencies Committee?

Mr. Peart

There is absolutely no foundation for what has been said in the Press about the Middle East. The right hon. Gentleman should not always believe what he reads. My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister is issuing a statement on the matter, and I shall be delighted to send the right hon. Gentleman a copy.

I accept what the right hon. Gentleman says about the debate on National Health Service contributions. After consultations, I thought that Wednesday would enable us to have a suitable debate, after we have continued the Budget debate, and this will be done.

I will look into the question of the Winter Emergencies Committee.

Mr. Heath

Do I understand that the Prime Minister is issuing a statement to the Press about this very important matter of the Middle East? If so, as it concerns his position and that of the Cabinet, why is he not making the statement to the House, where he can be cross-questioned about it? Surely if this is a matter of sufficient importance to warrant a statement it should be made to the House?

Mr. Peart

My right hon. Friend was not asked to make a statement. No Government has to answer charges made in the Press which are unfounded. The right hon. Gentleman should know that that would be an absurd procedure for any Government to adopt. I will see that the reply which has been issued is sent to the right hon. Gentleman.

Mr. Heath

If the right hon. Gentleman says that it is absurd for the Government to answer all charges made against them, I readily concede that they would have a full-time job. But what he has said is that the Prime Minister is making a statement to the Press and my point is a specific one, that if this matter is of such importance and apparently so exceptional that the Government or the Prime Minister must make a statement about it, why is the Prime Minister not making it to the House?

Mr. Peart

It will be circulated in the OFFICIAL REPORT, and we can debate it on Monday.

Mr. Hooley

On a point of order. May we be told whether this has anything to do with next week's business?

Mr. Speaker

There is nothing out of order. Mr. Heath.

Mr. Heath

If the Leader of the House wants it to be debated after the statement has been made as a Written Answer in HANSARD will he kindly give an undertaking that the Prime Minister will take part in the debate and answer the charges against him?

Mr. Peart

I cannot give that assurance. After all, the statement in the Press is unfounded. It really is silly. It would be absurd for any Government to take notice of all silly statements like thet.

Mr. Shinwell rose—

Mr. Strauss rose—

Mr. Speaker

Order. Not two right hon. Gentlemen at once. Mr. Shinwell.

Mr. Shinwell

May I ask my right hon. Friend whether he can say when the Merchant Shipping Bill will come from another place and be debated in this House and whether the Government have taken into account the serious representations made by the National Union of Seamen about the penal Clauses in the Bill?

Mr. Peart

My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister met the seamen on this issue. I cannot say specifically when the Bill will come before this House again, but I will carefully examine what my right hon. Friend has said.

Dame Irene Ward

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that since Questions to the Prime Minister took such a long time today, I do not know whether the Prime Minister will come to the North of England, as he has been asked to do? May we have a statement, or a debate next week, so that we may know whether we may expect the Prime Minister, to tell him what we think of him in the North-East?

Mr. Peart

My right hon. Friend is anxious to go to the North of England—he is going very soon.

Dame Irene Ward

He is? Hurray! I have won the battle.

Mr. Speaker

Order. In the midst of the battle I call the hon. Lady the Member for Wolverhampton, North-East (Mrs. Renée Short).

Mrs. Renée Short

May I ask my right hon. Friend when he expects to be ready to deal with the final stages of the Equal Pay Bill?

Mr. Peart

I cannot say. I must wait and see.

Mr. Peyton

Is it the intention of the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications to make a statement next week on the 7d. post, or are we to have an 8d. one after the election?

Mr. Peart

I do not think that that deserves an answer.

Mr. Strauss

Can my right hon. Friend say when he proposes to bring before the House the Government's proposals for implementing the Report of the Select Committee on Privileges, which was published over two and a half years ago?

Mr. Peart

My right hon. Friend and I, and many other colleagues, have been involved in a privilege matter. I said that I must wait until after that. I hope to be able to bring the report before the House as soon as possible.

Mr. Edward M. Taylor

Would the right hon. Gentleman reconsider his very flippant answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Yeovil (Mr. Peyton)? Is he aware that there is very real concern about the possibility of increased postal charges? Will we have a statement soon about whether there will be a 7d. post?

Mr. Peart

I have announced the business for next week. I cannot go beyond that.

Mr. Brooks

Could my right hon. Friend say when the Hare Coursing Bill is likely to be introduced? Would he agree that since it is an extremely simple, one-Clause Bill it would not take much of the time of the House?

Mr. Peart

I cannot give a precise date.

Mr. Iain Macleod

The Leader of the House will be aware that the fate of the 6d. was to have been decided by Easter. Now that the Government have taken their decision in this matter, when will the House be informed?

Mr. Peart

I cannot say precisely. We have said that we will look into this.

Mr. Peter Archer

Since the 25th anniversary of the United Nations is a time when the world will want to discuss its structure and function, will my right hon. Friend give the House an early opportunity of doing so?

Mr. Peart

I cannot say "next week", but I will look into it.

Mr. Kirk

With regard to the last question put by my hon. Friend the Leader of the Opposition, would the right hon. Gentleman be prepared to ask either the Prime Minister or the Minister res- ponsible to look into the matter of winter emergencies? These are still going on all over my constituency, at any rate, and even if the Prime Minister did not want to answer today, someone ought to answer at some time.

Mr. Peart

My right hon. Friend is not opposed to answering. It is not his fault that the Question was not reached. The Prime Minister is not afraid of Questions. I have said that I will look into whether a statement could be made next week.

Mr. Ogden

Can my right hon. Friend explain why the Opposition want the statement on the Winter Emergencies Committee next week, when there is a full-scale debate on the coal and power supply industries today?

Mr. Peart

It is not for me to penetrate the minds of hon. and right hon. Gentlemen opposite.

Mr. Lubbock

Would the right hon. Gentleman remind the House how long it is since the report of the Select Committee dealing with the declaration of Members' interests was published, and say how much longer we are to wait for a debate?

Mr. Peart

I hope that there will be a debate very soon. The hon. Member will appreciate that there are many other reports from various Select Committees and that priorities have to be decided. Next week is Budget week, but I will look into this.

Mr. Arthur Davidson

Can my right hon. Friend find time, as soon as possible, for a debate on the Government's decision to go ahead with the siting of the new town in Central Lancashire, which is a matter of tremendous importance throughout Lancashire?

Mr. Peart

I am aware of its importance to Lancashire, but I cannot find time for a debate next week.

Mr. Dance

Has the right hon. Gentleman seen Motion No. 215, signed by 97 Members, dealing with wrong priorities in Government grants?

[That this House deplores the latest stage in the Government's march towards a civilised society in giving priority of grants to the concubines mistresses and illegitimate children of university students while callously disregarding the claims of the disabled, the old-age pensioners, the chronic sick, the war pensioners and failing to meet the reasonable requests of nurses, the police and the farming community.]

Can he say on which day next week the Secretary of State for Education and Science will make a statement?

Mr. Peart

I cannot promise that. I have noted the Motion. There will be opportunities for discussion of these issues later.

Mr. Philip Noel-Baker

Can my right hon. Friend tell us when he will provide time for a debate of Rhodesia so that the electors may be aware of the views of hon. Members in all quarters?

Mr. Peart

I cannot promise a debate immediately. I know that this is a matter which gives cause for concern. I note what my right hon. Friend has said. We are to have a debate next week on the Middle East.

Sir Ian Orr-Ewing

Would the right hon. Gentleman bear in mind that it is now a year since the Report of the Select Committee on Science and Technology, which looked into defence research establishments, was published and put before the House? May we have time to discuss this rather important matter at the earliest opportunity?

Mr. Peart

I am aware of when it was published, but I have to decide the priorities. But not next week.

Mr. Judd

In view of the importance which the Government have always attached to the United Nations in their foreign policy, and the fact that this is the United Nations 25th anniversary year, will my right hon. Friend give the House an assurance that we will certainly have a debate before the summer is through?

Mr. Peart

I have said that I would look into this. I cannot go beyond that.

Mr. Kenneth Baker

As we have not debated the Post Office affairs for nine months, could the right hon. Gentleman give us an assurance that during the next two or three weeks we will have an opportunity to debate the Post Office, particularly telephone charges, and the rumour that there will be a 2d. or 3d. increase in the cost of the letter post?

Mr. Peart

I have answered this already and I cannot go beyond it.

Mr. Albu

When does my right hon. Friend propose to let the House know the Goverment's view on the Select Committee on Procedure's scrutiny of public expenditure?

Mr. Peart

I have said earlier that I am anxious to have the whole question of a Committee on public expenditure and sub-committees considered in the light of the review of the rôle of Select Committees. I am still discussing this and as soon as I am able to do so I will report to the House.

Mr. Gibson-Watt

A fortnight ago the right hon. Gentleman acceded to my request to have a debate on Welsh local government reform. What progress has he made?

Mr. Peart

I cannot give a definite reply, but I think that it is the sort of issue that could be debated in the Welsh Grand Committee.

Mr. Speed

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that many of us are far from happy about the way in which he has dodged the question of increased postal charges? Would he ask his right hon. Friend to make a statement next week, if charges are to go up by 2d.?

Mr. Peart

I cannot give a specific promise, but I have taken note of what has been said.

Mr. Lane

In thinking about the Winter Emergencies Committee will the right hon. Gentleman bear in mind that many of us want to be assured, either this afternoon or at least next week, that the Committee is getting to grips with this scandalous muddle over solid smokeless supplies?

Mr. Peart

I have answered this. I am looking into it.