May I ask the acting Leader of the House the Business for next week?

The Business for next week will be as follows:

Monday, 21st April.—Report and Third Reading of the National Health Service (Scotland) Bill.

Tuesday, 22nd April.—Report stage of the Budget Resolutions.

Wednesday, 23rd April.—Conclusion of the Report stage of the Budget Resolutions. Motions to approve the Clearing Office (Spain) Amendment Order and Import Duties Orders, Committee stage of a new Financial Resolution relating to the Transport Bill, and, if there is time, conclusion of the adjourned Debate on the Public Offices (Site) Bill.

Thursday, 24th April.—It is proposed to move Mr. Speaker out of the Chair on going into Committee of Supply on Civil Estimates and Estimates for Revenue Departments, 1947. The hon. and gallant Member for Argyll (Major McCallum) is calling attention to production of British types of civil aircraft. Motion to approve the Biscuits (Charges) (Amendment) Order.

Friday, 25th April.—Report and Third Reading of the Statistics of Trade Bill.

As regards Wednesday's Business, the right hon. Gentleman and the Chancellor of the Exchequer will realise that there has not been very much time to study the Budget Resolutions, and they are rather more numerous than usual. If we have not completed the Report stage at a reasonable hour, will the Leader of the House not try to persist with the later items announced for Wednesday? I think it would be unreasonable to ask the House to sit late to take this, it we take up the whole time with the Budget Resolutions.

I am glad the right hon. Gentleman has put that question. I should have thought that perhaps a day and a half would be sufficient. If there could be, through the usual channels, an arrangement whereby we can get the other Orders, which I do not think will be too highly controversial, I should be delighted to come to such an arrangement.

All I wish to do, is to warn the Government that it does not seem possible to complete so large a number of Resolutions in two days. The right hon. Gentleman has also asked us to deal both with Report and Third Reading of an important Bill on Friday. Probably he knows that the Minister in charge of the Bill upstairs—I make no complaint—offered to consider a number of matters betwen the Committee and Report stages. In the circumstances, it hardly seems reasonable to ask the House to take the Report and Third Reading on the same day, and I must ask whether more time could not be given.

My information is that it would be quite reasonable to take Report and Third Reading on Friday next week. I will discuss the matter with my right hon. Friend.

I was giving the right hon. Gentleman warning. There is another question I must ask. It is in regard to the National Service Bill. Can the Government give any information about their intention in regard to that Measure, particularly in view of the important changes which the Government announced and which fundamentally alter the Bill? Will the Government bear in mind that more time will be required for the Committee stage than would normally be the case? May I also remind the right hon. Gentleman that the Amendments on the Paper in the name of the Government now amount to something like a fresh Second Reading of the Bill?

I am not discouraging the right hon. Gentleman, and if he will put that question next Thursday I will be very glad to answer. There is no desire on our part to try to burke any discussion on the Bill.

Mr. Paton:

May I ask my right hon. Friend if in view of a certain uneasiness about our policy in the Far East, particularly in regard to Japan, he would consider providing an early opportunity for discussion of that very important matter?

That is really a matter for the House. There will be opportunities arising on the Estimates.

On which day next week is it expected that the Prime Minister or the Minister of Fuel and Power will make a statement on cuts in domestic electricity and gas? We have been promised week after week that we would have a statement

A statement was made by the Prime Minister the day before the House broke up and, if there is any demand for a statement, arrangements will certainly be made.

Can my right hon. Friend give any information as to the date of the introduction of the Northern Ireland Bill?

We are still dealing with the Business for next week, which I have announced. I hope the new Bill will be introduced in the next few weeks.

May I ask if the right hon. Gentleman can say when, if ever, His Majesty's Government propose to allow time for the discussion of the Motion standing in the name of 163 hon. Members relating to floods?

[That this House cannot but recognise the recent widespread flooding especially in the Fens as a national disaster and urges His Majesty's Government to treat it as such.]

Will he give me an answer soon, or I will do my level best to give him water on the brain.

The Government have no desire to shirk discussion, and it may be, after the statement which my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister made before Easter, that an opportunity for debate will be provided.

Before Easter, the acting Leader of the House promised a Debate after the Easter Recess on the Report on Equal Pay. Can he now say when we may expect that Debate?

I have no recollection of any undertaking of that nature.

Is the acting Leader of the House aware that there is some dissatisfaction among Scottish Members at the arrangement to take the National Health Service (Scotland) Bill on Monday? Our presence here will entail breaking the Fourth Commandment by travelling on Sunday.

I have said on many occasions, that Mondays and Fridays are working days in this House.

When will it be possible to discuss the Gorell Report on the Regent's Park terraces?

I cannot answer that. We have had no time to consider it.