I would like to put to you, Mr. Speaker, a question about the order of Business to-day. Can you inform us, for the guidance of the House, of the order in which the Debate on pensions will be taken?

I really have had no official notice of this question. I do not know what has been arranged. I understand that some hon. Members wish to shorten the discussion on the Regulations and to proceed on the Adjournment to discuss a rather wider issue. I have no objection, of course, if that is the wish of the House. But if must be remembered that on the Adjournment there are certain limitations. Anything requiring legislation and the general question of old age pensions would not be in Order.

I quite realise that on the Adjournment questions of legislation could not be raised, but would it be your Ruling that the Debate might range over the widest possible field, affecting pensions of all grades, including supplementation?

As long as it is in Order on the Adjournment, I am quite prepared to agree to it.

You will see, Sir, that before the House there are suggested Draft Regulations and a Memorandum. As one is an explanation of the other, would you allow the two to be taken together in the first Debate?

I suppose it would be for the general convenience of the House that both should be taken together.

If the Draft Regulations and the Memorandum are to be taken together, would it be in Order to have a fairly wide discussion on the two? Would it be in Order to suggest that there are certain things not in the Regulations which should be there, and which are obliquely referred to in the Memorandum? For example, in the Memorandum it is suggested that the Assistance Board are going to bring forward a consolidated Regulation. Would it be in Order to suggest that it would be undesirable to bring forward a consolidated Regulation at this moment, when there are certain increases which ought to be made, in order to make that consolidation somewhat permanent?

This Memorandum is there for our information. I have two Motions on the subject. Broadly speaking, the Memorandum, being there for the information of Members only, it is there as a help to the Debate.

As the Draft Regulations propose to amend the old Regulations, will it be permissible to raise matters not brought within the scope of the amendment in so far as the original Regulations are being amended?

Only within limits. Our general rule is that you cannot go back to discuss the original Regulations, but only changes which are being made in them.

Surely we are entitled to discuss the form of alterations that are proposed in these draft Regulations and the use of them?

With regard to the alterations, yes, certainly, we can Debate them.

And the use of them?

I think the hon. Member had better not ask me for too definite a Ruling. Let us see how the Debate goes on.

If the House goes on to the Adjournment at an early hour, Mr. Speaker, what subject is it intended to discuss?

The same subject, but rather wider.

May I ask the Leader of the House, through you, Mr. Speaker, whether, if there is a desire to carry on the Debate longer than the stipulated time, he will consider suspending the Rule so as to give a longer time, as there are many hon. Members on this side who are interested and want to speak?

My hon. Friend has rather taken me by surprise. I have had no notice of this. I thought at the time that this arrangement for the Debate would suffice, and I think it should, if we fall in with the arrangement which has been suggested, which seems to be the best way of making use of the Adjournment.

I understand that the Adjournment will finish at the usual time under the Standing Order, and we might want more time, and if the Debate is likely to go on, would the right hon. Gentleman extend the time?

I have had absolutely no notice of this. No one gave me any indication that there is a wide desire to sit, and I rather hope the House will not want to sit late.

It is very probable that the Debate on the Regulations will go the stipulated length of time, and it is possible that the Adjournment may not come.

One cannot tell that until one gets there.