HC Deb 14 March 1974 vol 870 cc359-63
Mr. Heath

While welcoming the new Leader of the House, may I ask him to state the business of the House for next week?

The Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons (Mr. Edward Short)

I thank the right hon. Gentleman for his kind welcome.

The business will be as follows:

The debate on the Address in reply to the Gracious Speech will be continued tomorrow, Friday, and brought to a conclusion on Monday, 18th March.

Tuesday, 19th March—Supply (1st Allotted Day). Spring Supplementary Estimates and Votes A will be before the House. The Question will be put from the Chair on all outstanding Votes.

There will be a debate on Foreign Affairs.

Wednesday, 20th March—Proceedings on the Consolidated Fund Bill.

Thursday, 21st March—Debate on Welsh Affairs.

Friday, 22nd March—Second Reading of the Dumping at Sea Bill.

Motions on the Eggs Authority Levy Scheme Order, on the Calf Subsidies (United Kingdom) Scheme, and on the Representation of the People Regulations.

Monday, 25th March—Motions on the Rate Support Grant Order and other related orders.

As the House will be aware, my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer proposes to open his Budget on Tuesday, 26th March.

Mr. Heath

I thank the Leader of the House for that statement.

For the foreign affairs debate on Tuesday, will the right hon. Gentleman confirm that this is an Opposition Supply Day that we have surrendered to the Government, which they will repay later? Second, the right hon. Gentleman will recognise the deep interest in the Government's proposals in respect of defence. Will he tell the House when the defence White Paper will be published?

Third, concerning the debate on Monday week on the rate support grant, when will the orders be laid? It was widely reported in this morning's Press and again in the Press this afternoon, that the Secretary of State for the Environment will make a statement about the rate support grant. We have had no notice of that. Will the Leader of the House tell us whether that statement will be made in the House?

Mr. Short

I confirm what the Leader of the Opposition said concerning the Supply Day on Tuesday. With respect to his second question, there will be a defence White Paper, but I cannot at present say when it will be published. On the third question, the order on the rate support grant will be laid before the House today.

Mr. Heath

Will the right hon. Gentleman tell the House about the statement which it is alleged that the Secretary of State will make?

Mr. Short

I shall make inquiries and perhaps I can let the right hon. Gentleman know. But the order will be laid today.

Mr. Palmer

When does my right hon. Friend the Leader of the House hope to arrange the promised debate on the report of the Select Committee on Science and Technology on nuclear reactor choice?

Mr. Short

I understand that my right hon. Friend, when winding up the debate last night, promised a debate on this, and I shall arrange that as soon as I can.

Sir J. Rodgers

Will the Leader of the House tell us when we are likely to receive the Lane Report on abortion? It is a very topical subject.

Mr. Short

I am afraid that I cannot do that now. I shall make inquiries, and if I can give the hon. Gentleman any information I shall write to him.

Mr. Hooley

Will my right hon. Friend undertake to provide opportunity at an early date to debate the report of the Select Committee on wages paid by British firms in South Africa?

Mr. Short

I could not promise that next week, or for some weeks to come. But I shall bear in mind what my hon. Friend said.

Sir Bernard Braine

As the Select Committee on overseas development was unable to complete its inquiries in the last Parliament, and made a special report to the House suggesting that it should be set up again at an early date, will the right hon. Gentleman consider sympathetically so to do?

Mr. Short

I am extremely sympathetic to the hon. Gentleman's suggestion. My right hon. Friend will have discussions through the usual channels for the Select Committee to be set up.

Mr. Whitehead

Will my right hon. Friend assure the House that discussions between all the main parties on a register of Members' interests are continuing and will be brought to a speedy conclusion?

Mr. Short

I had a long series of discussions with the right hon. Gentleman my predecessor. We reached a fair measure of agreement. I shall be writing to him and to a number of other hon. Members this weekend, and I hope to be able to report to the House soon.

Mr. Beith

Has the Leader of the House decided to make any arrangements for the answering of Questions on posts and telecommunications, which, until this Government took office, came on at a specific time because they were the concern of a separate Minister? They now appear likely to be buried among Questions for a busy Department.

Mr. Short

This Department was small, with very little ministerial work, and it was felt right to incorporate it in the Department of Industry. That is generally agreed to be correct. However, I shall look into the matter of Questions.

Mr. William Hamilton

Will my right hon. Friend indicate when the Sharp Report on invalid tricycles will be published, in view of the inordinate delay in its publication by the previous Government?

Mr. Short

I imagine that my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Social Services will refer to that report in her speech tomorrow.

Mr. Biffen

If the hon. Member for Rochdale (Mr. Smith) and the Opposition Front Bench are successful in contriving the defeat of the Government on Monday, shall we have a replay on Tuesday?

Mr. Short

Business questions are difficult enough without answering hypothetical questions.

Mr. Faulds

When may we have a statement on the Government's intentions about the introduction of a public lending right, preferably based on the scheme drawn up by me, a copy of which the Prime Minister has?

Mr. Short

I understand that my hon. Friend the Minister for the Arts is currently considering this matter. I have no doubt that he will bear in mind my hon. Friend's monumental work.

Rev. Ian Paisley

Will the Leader of the House promise an early debate on Northern Ireland?

Mr. Short

There will be a debate on Northern Ireland as soon as I can arrange it. It will certainly be before Easter, but I cannot say when.

Sir P. Bryan

Will the right hon. Gentleman tell us which Minister will be answering Questions on broadcasting?

Mr. Short

I am afraid not without notice. I am sorry.

Mr. Marten

May we have a statement next week on the setting up of the scrutiny committee for legislation emanating from the Common Market?

Mr. Short

I shall refer to the Foster Report on Monday, Mr. Speaker, if I catch your eye. I hope shortly to make a statement on the Foster Report. We have had a debate on this matter in the House, and I think that we can accept almost the whole of the report. I shall be making a statement shortly, and I hope to refer to it in the debate on Monday.

Mr. Ridsdale

May I press the Leader of the House to arrange for the Secretary of State for the Environment to make an early statement about the rate support grant. A great deal of worry and uncertainty has been caused, and a statement at the earliest possible moment is much required.

Mr. Short

The global amount of the rate support grant is not being changed. It is the distribution of it with which the order deals. My right hon. Friend, I believe, does not intend to make a statement in the House, but the order will be laid today.

Sir J. Eden

Reverting to an earlier question, is it not the case that responsibility for broadcasting has been moved to the Home Office, and will not the right hon. Gentleman confirm that it is the Secretary of State for the Home Department who will be answering Questions on broadcasting policy?

Mr. Short

As an ex-Minister of Posts and Telecommunications, the right hon. Gentleman knew more about this than I did. I have now ascertained that this is the case.

Sir D. Walker-Smith

Reverting to the rate support grant, while there is much to be said, in the case of a Statutory Instrument, for letting the order speak for itself and then taking its parliamentary processes, would the Leader of the House be good enough to make clear, on his first assumption of office, that the principle will be adhered to that when statements are to be made by Ministers they will be made first and foremost to the House?

Mr. Short

Bearing in mind some of our experiences over the past three and a half years, that is a bit much. However, I shall convey the right hon. and learned Gentleman's comments to my right hon. Friend.