Mr Stanley Baldwin: I am not prepared at this moment to answer any supplementary question whatever.
Mr Stanley Baldwin: I cannot answer the third question to-day. We are suspending the Rule to-night in order to take the Committee stage of the Special Areas (Amendment) Bill. I hope it will not be necessary to sit late. If no Amendment is made, there will be no Report stage and we shall be able to take the Third Reading on Monday. It is necessary to pass the Bill by the end of May, and we are anxious to get it...
Mr Stanley Baldwin: The Prime Minister indicated assent.
Mr Stanley Baldwin: I hope to be in a position early next week to give the necessary information.
Mr Stanley Baldwin: There are two points arising out of that question. It does not necessarily follow that the Bill will not be reached before 11 o'clock. We all hope that proceedings on the Budget Resolutions may finish at such a time that we may be able to start earlier. There was an understanding—perhaps the hon. Member was not in the House—that it might be possible that we might be able to take the...
Mr Stanley Baldwin: All that I can say in reply to the hon. Member is that I suppose he thinks that, whatever a Prime Minister may do, he can do something better.
Mr Stanley Baldwin: The hon. Member will realise that when the report of the Royal Commission on Palestine is received it must be made available in strict confidence not only to Members of the Cabinet but to various officials, but I can assure him that, in accordance with the usual practice, the report will be made available to Members of this House immediately on publication.
Mr Stanley Baldwin: I shall be glad to have notice of that, but I think the answer is "Yes." Perhaps the hon. Member will put the question on the Paper. The report will be issued immediately.
Mr Stanley Baldwin: As the hon. Member is no doubt aware, the Marriage Bill is third Order on Friday, and I imagine that there will be time on that day for the consideration of all three Bills. I would remind the hon. Member that Friday, 30th April, is also available for consideration of Private Members' Bills.
Mr Stanley Baldwin: My answer must be that hon. Members know I have refused to answer hypothetical questions for 20 years, and I am not going to begin this week.
Mr Stanley Baldwin: I am unable at present to make any further statement on this matter but, as my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer said the week before last, due weight will be given to all relevant considerations in connection with the Committee's report.
Mr Stanley Baldwin: We hope to get the first three Orders on the Paper.
Mr Stanley Baldwin: Perhaps the hon. Member will be good enough to await the Debate this afternoon.
Mr Stanley Baldwin: Until the Report of the Royal Commission on Palestine is received I can make no statement.
Mr Stanley Baldwin: Perhaps the hon. Member will put that question down.
Mr Stanley Baldwin: His Majesty's Government have had under consideration during the week-end the present situation for shipping in the neighbourhood of Bilbao. It has been necessary to take into account the practical aspect of the problem arising out of the efforts of the insurgent forces to invest Bilbao by sea and land. Bilbao is in close proximity to the war zone, and there is constant and serious risk to...
Mr Stanley Baldwin: I have told the House that no blockade is recognised. The difficulty is that this situation is a comparatively new one. It is possible now to sow harbours, and the approaches to harbours, with mines. That is a comparatively new problem, and what I have said about mines, in my answer to the question, stands good.
Mr Stanley Baldwin: The situation is constantly changing, and this is a matter of the last few days. I can only speak of the present situation; I cannot say how long it will last. The right hon. Gentleman must remember that these mines have been sown by both sides.
Mr Stanley Baldwin: No. I do not think it amounts to a blockade.
Mr Stanley Baldwin: We do not admit belligerent rights now. As I said in the answer, His Majesty's Government cannot recognise or concede belligerent rights, and they cannot tolerate any interference with British shipping at sea.
