Sir Louis Smith: On a point of Order. Seeing that there are 190 Questions on the Paper, could you not use your discretion, Mr. Speaker, when many questions are put down to one Minister, and divide them over several days, according to their relative importance and urgency, instead of all the questions being taken on one day?
Sir Louis Smith: Would my right hon. Friend give this matter further consideration, seeing that it is hardly a sound business proposition to be exporting ships for other countries to break up when we have facilities for breaking them up here, and are importing from those countries at the same time?
Sir Louis Smith: Is my right hon. Friend aware that a large body of Conservatives who heard this statement welcomed it as a well-balanced and most helpful speech?
Sir Louis Smith: Is my right hon. Friend aware that the engineering industry is perhaps the most hurt at the moment; and will he get into touch with that industry as early as possible?
Sir Louis Smith: Does my right hon. Friend realise that the steel plates, of which a great many of these ships that are coming from Holland are made, are free of duty when they come in ships, and that they would have to pay a duty otherwise; and is not this a way in which duties are being avoided?
Sir Louis Smith: While I am perfectly sure that barley growers will welcome the announcement by the right hon. Gentleman, particularly at a moment when they are in such distress, may I ask whether the right hon. Gentleman hopes in the early part of next year to be able to announce in the House the long-term policy of the Government with regard to this crop?
Sir Louis Smith: Is not the right hon. Gentleman somewhat surprised that Members of the Liberal party should not know that iron castings are not used for aircraft?
Sir Louis Smith: Is my hon. Friend aware that there is a growing feeling in the country that estimates for additional schools are very much higher than are needed and accommodation is provided for considerably more children than will be forthcoming?
Sir Louis Smith: asked the Secretary of State for Air the number of types of military aeroplanes which are now being manufactured in Great Britain; and the number of such types of which mass production is being carried out?
Sir Louis Smith: Can my right hon. Friend say the number of types likely to be produced during the next 12 months and also what percentage of the aeroplanes now being turned out, are looked upon as having been produced on mass production lines?
Sir Louis Smith: The House, I am sure, will have enjoyed the speech just made by a practical motorist, especially as we have already heard the point of view of another hon. Member who admitted that he is a pedestrian, and, unfortunately, a pedestrian who has met with a nasty accident. The point of view put by the hon. Member for Rotherhithe (Mr. Benjamin Smith) is that he looks on 33⅓ miles an hour average...
Sir Louis Smith: I think it would be in the interests of the pedestrians, and the cost would be a small item. Indeed, I think that most pedestrians at the present time do carry either torches or lamps in the country districts. What can we do further to increase the safety of our roads? We can, without doubt, teach children a great deal in the schools, and we can teach adults by giving them information on the...
Sir Louis Smith: The hon. Member is saying that my suggestion that pedestrians should carry a torch is a hardship, but we must remember that the cyclist and the motorist are compelled to carry lights to indicate the position they are in on the roads. Why is the pedestrian in a different position?
Sir Louis Smith: Like the hon. Gentleman the Member for Coatbridge (Mr. Barr), I propose to say a few words on home affairs. I would like to congratulate the hon. Member on having the Secretary of State for Scotland to listen to his thoughtful speech. I would add my sincere congratulations to the Prime Minister on his great efforts for peace. I am sure that the whole nation appreciates the self-sacrificing...
Sir Louis Smith: Having regard to the considerable industrial development of North Lincolnshire, and to the fact that the local authorities in that district are prepared to find the major proportion of the cost of the Humber Bridge, will my right hon. Friend give this matter further consideration, especially having regard to the inadequate facilities over the Humber?
Sir Louis Smith: asked the Minister of Transport whether, in view of the growth of holidays with pay, he will issue to the various traffic commissioners advice in favour of greater elasticity in sanctioning coaching services?
Sir Louis Smith: Having regard to the short time in which the necessary changes might be made, will my right hon. Friend give instructions to his Department to watch the position carefully during August?
Sir Louis Smith: Is not the right hon. Gentleman alarmed, as most industrialists are, at the increasing adverse balance of trade in this country, and will he do something about it?
Sir Louis Smith: [HON. MEMBERS: "Divide!"] I shall keep the Committee for only two minutes. When I read the particular item in the Clause that differentiates between the industrial and agricultural workers, I sympathised very much with the agricultural workers, and I asked the Minister on the Second Reading whether he could give consideration to this matter upon the Committee stage. I have listened to every...
Sir Louis Smith: I feel sure that my right hon. Friend the Minister of Labour will be most encouraged by the speeches made from the Opposition benches thus far, particularly in view of the fact that the hon. Member for East Wolverhampton (Mr. Mander), who usually is able. to find fault with us on this side, was unable to find any fault with this Bill. May I say how much the House must appreciate the fact that...
