Mr Stanley Baldwin: The seat formerly occupied by the High Commissioner for Newfoundland is at present vacant, and so far occasion has not arisen for filling it.
Mr Stanley Baldwin: I have answered the question. Perhaps if my hon. and gallant Friend has any further questions, he will give me notice of them.
Mr Stanley Baldwin: The question of the hon. and gallant Gentleman is apparently based on an incomplete summary of the statement made by my right hon. Friend on the occasion in question. In his statement, my right hon. Friend based himself on the speech of the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs at Leamington on 20th November, and summarised and in part quoted a passage from that speech which had been already...
Mr Stanley Baldwin: I would remind the hon. Member that that speech was twice specifically quoted in this House.
Mr Stanley Baldwin: Perhaps the hon. and gallant Member will await the statement which will be made on behalf of the Government in the course of the Debate upon the Special Areas (Money) Resolution.
Mr Stanley Baldwin: Perhaps the hon. and gallant Gentleman will await the statement.
Mr Stanley Baldwin: It might meet the convenience of hon. Members if I made some observations at this point on the matter which is before the House, and I will try to emulate the Leader of the Opposition in the tone and temper of his speech, recognising the importance to the whole House of the matter we are discussing. It is quite true that it is no party question; it is also true that every Opposition wishes to...
Mr Stanley Baldwin: I quite agree. The principle is not challenged, but it has been suggested on more than one occasion—and the right hon. Gentleman made that part of his speech to-day—that the power entrusted to the Executive has been abused by reason of the details in which the Financial Resolutions are drawn up. I think that wants examining. I am sure the whole House, especially those hon. Members who...
Mr Stanley Baldwin: With regard to the latter part of the right hon. Gentleman's intervention, I would like to have that point examined and replied to, in the course of the general discussion. We feel that with regard to the Special Areas, this Resolution is restricted to the points which are fundamental to the financing of the Government's proposals. The Bill itself is restricted to financial matters and so...
Mr Stanley Baldwin: As at present proposed, the International Sugar Conference will meet on 5th April next in London; the United Kingdom representatives at the Conference will be:
Mr Stanley Baldwin: Monday: Committee stage of the Special Areas Money Resolution, and consideration of the India and Burma Orders, which were debated on 16th February. Tuesday: Conclusion of the Debate on the Committee stage of the Special Areas Money Resolution. Wednesday: Supply, Second Allotted Day; Report stage of the Civil Vote on Account. Ministry of Transport questions will be debated. Report stage of...
Mr Stanley Baldwin: The right hon. Gentleman gave me notice of that question. The Government have certainly no desire to limit unduly the discretion of the House on matters which can just as conveniently be left to legislation. The drafting of this Resolution was very carefully considered with a view to avoiding any restrictions on the Debate other than those necessarily involved by the principle which I have...
Mr Stanley Baldwin: As I have said, I had in mind the observations that were made to the House by Mr. Speaker, and we had those observations in mind in the framing of this Resolution. In our view, we have taken them into consideration, and, as was said in the words of my answer, we have so drafted the Resolution.
Mr Stanley Baldwin: No, I am afraid it is impossible to give an answer at the moment.
Mr Stanley Baldwin: Not without notice.
Mr Stanley Baldwin: The answer is in the negative.
Mr Stanley Baldwin: I have nothing to add.
Mr Stanley Baldwin: Apart from references which I have seen in the Press, my attention has not been drawn to the work of this board. As at present advised, I see no ground for sending a commission for the purposes to which the hon. Member refers.
Mr Stanley Baldwin: Yes, Sir. In addition to the business that has been announced for consideration to-morrow, we hope to take the Second Reading of the Public Records (Scotland) [Lords] Bill. On Thursday, in the event of the Third Reading of the Defence Loans Bill being finished before Eleven o'Clock, we shall take the Second Reading of the Chairmen of Traffic Commissioners, Etc. (Tenure of Office) Bill and of...
Mr Stanley Baldwin: I have no doubt that this matter will be referred to during the Debate on the Air Estimates.
