§ VISCOUNT ALEXANDER OF HILLSBOROUGHMy Lords, with the permission of the House, I should like to ask a question of the noble Earl the Leader of the House on Business. We are rather concerned as to what may be the ultimate effects on the defence organisation of this country of No. 1 and No. 2 of the Service Departments' Supply Orders. According to the Paper issued today, No. 2 is to be considered next Tuesday. That is rather too short notice for some of us who have been busy on other things to go into the matter in detail; and it is a question of whether or not it is possible to postpone that debate. If not, what other arrangements satisfactory to the House can be made for having a real debate upon the future of defence production, and civil aviation production 578 as well, in relation to the new functions of Departments after the abolition of the Ministry of Supply?
THE EARL OF HOMEMy Lords, I rather think that we shall have to take this business on Tuesday at some time. I understand that noble Lords opposite do not wish—and I do not think anybody does—to interfere with the agricultural debate, which is very important and on which a number of people would wish to speak. Therefore, it might be possible to put this business second on Tuesday. If that were not possible, I think that, with the co-operation of noble Lords opposite, I should like to discuss the matter through the usual channels. It might be possible to have a very short, probing debate on Tuesday, and then to arrange later whatever may be necessary. Perhaps we could discuss this matter through the usual channels and come to an arrangement.
§ VISCOUNT ALEXANDER OF HILLSBOROUGHI shall be very happy to fall in with that suggestion, if we can have the usual conversations.