HL Deb 27 June 1940 vol 116 cc718-20

4.33 p.m.

LORD STRABOLGI

My Lords, I desire to ask if my noble friend the Leader of the House has any statement to make on next week's business.

VISCOUNT CALDECOTE

My Lords, the Colonial Development and Welfare Bill will be taken for its Second Reading on Tuesday. For Wednesday there is at present no business on the Paper, but there will be three introductions on that day. On Thursday the Colonial Development and Welfare Bill will be taken in Committee. There is no other business except that which I have mentioned.

LORD STRABOLGI

My Lords, perhaps I might be allowed to indicate to the Leader of the House that there may be a suggestion put to the Government that we might have a debate on foreign affairs, in view of the fact that we have not had one for a very long time in your Lordships' House and that a great deal has happened since we had our last debate. Perhaps the Government will bear that in mind. Needless to say—I am sure in this respect I speak for all your Lordships—we wish to suit the convenience of the Foreign Secretary, the burden on whose shoulders we fully appreciate, but I thought it right to give notice and perhaps the Government would make inquiries.

VISCOUNT SAMUEL

My Lords, no doubt the question will be considered whether the debate might be in private or public, or possibly the statement of the Foreign Secretary in public and an opportunity given, if noble Lords wish, to have the debate in private if there are noble Lords who wish to express their views in private. I do not myself express any strong view as to which course is desirable. I only suggest that it might be a matter for consideration.

VISCOUNT CALDECOTE

My Lords, of course if there is a general desire that there should be a debate on foreign affairs, the matter will be considered through the usual channels. With reference to the point mentioned by the noble Viscount, perhaps I might have a word with my noble friend Lord Halifax, and see what course he would propose that the debate should follow. Then it may be desirable to take either all, or part only, of the debate in secret, if your Lord-ships so desire.

House adjourned during pleasure.

House resumed.