May I ask the Lord President of the Council what the business for next week will be, and how far he intends to go to-night if the Motion on the Paper dealing with the Sittings of the House is carried?

The business for next week will be:

Monday, Second Reading, Agricultural Marketing Bill, and Committee stage of the necessary Financial Resolution.

On Tuesday and Thursday, it is proposed to move Mr. Speaker out of the Chair on going into Committee of Supply on the Air and Navy Estimates respectively, and to consider the essential Votes in Committee.

Tuesday: Air Estimates, 1933, Votes A, 1, 4, 3 and 8.

Thursday: Navy Estimates, 1933, Votes A, 1, 10 and 2.

On any day, if there is time, other Orders will be taken.

During the week the Government hope to make further progress with the Local Government (General Exchequer Contributions) Bill and to consider Motions to approve the Additional Import Duties (No. 1) Order, 1933, and the Scottish Raspberries Marketing Scheme.

Private Members' business will be taken on Wednesday and Friday.

What about tonight?

We hope to get the first three Orders.

With regard to the business to-night, may I call the right hon. Gentleman's attention to the fact that there may be a rather prolonged discussion on the Visiting Forces (British Commonwealth) Bill? There is a number of Members who feel very strongly that a very vital principle is involved in that Bill. May I also call attention to the fact, as I am sure the right hon. Gentleman would agree, that the Agricultural Marketing Bill is a Bill of the size and importance that usually warrant two days' discussion I think it is rather out of the ordinary course of business to ask us to take the Financial Resolution the same night, and I will ask the right hon. Gentleman to reconsider that decision. Then I want to give notice that we propose to negotiate through the usual channels as to whether it will not be possible to take the Additional Import Duties (No. 1) Order, 1933, and the Scottish Raspberries Marketing Scheme some time before Eleven o'Clock at night. They are rather important.

With regard to the two points which the right hon. Gentleman has put, I think we are not unreasonable and we are quite willing to give consideration to them. At any rate, so far as to-night is concerned, we have no intention of sitting up if there is really a general desire to discuss the Third Reading.

Do I understand the right hon. Gentleman to say that he is not averse to considering the request of the Leader of the Opposition for an additional day on the Agricultural Marketing Bill, because I wish to associate myself with the Leader of the Opposition in that demand? Agriculture at any time calls for a large amount of discussion in this House from Members who do not frequently take part, but, in addition, this Bill, if our reading of it is correct, is very wide and far-reaching, and other hon. Members, who do not normally take part in agricultural Debates, will want to participate. I support very strongly the point of view of the Leader of the Opposition that one day cannot be regarded as sufficient for this important Measure.

The hon. Member generally understands so clearly that possibly I did not make myself clear just now. What I said deserved consideration was the request of the Leader of the Opposition that we should not push the passage of the Financial Resolution on the same evening as the Second Reading. That, I think, is quite worthy of consideration.

Can my right hon. Friend say whether any date has yet been fixed for the Committee stage of the Rent and Mortgage Interest Restrictions. (Amendment) Bill?

No.

Do I understand that there is no possibility of getting a second day for the Second Reading of the Agricultural Marketing Bill?

I understand that when we come to the Financial Resolution we shall really, if we get the extra time for that, continue the discussion.

The Leader of the Opposition knows very well—better than most—how very difficult it is to discuss the big, broad, general principles on a Financial Resolution and to keep within the order of the House. The Second Reading is the appropriate stage for a full general Debate on the whole position of agriculture and the way proposed in the Bill to meet the situation. It is a matter of first Governmental importance. This is no second-rate Bill. It is the biggest —[HON. MEMBERS: "Hear, hear !"] I do not want that to be misinterpreted. This is one of the big items of Government policy, and I am asking the Leader of the House if he will not grant us a second day for its discussion.

I should like to support the suggestion made that this Bill is so large a Bill and raises so many questions of important policy that there ought to be two days for a full discussion. It might be possible that one part of the second day might be devoted to the Financial Resolution.

Careful consideration will be given to the allocation of time for the Second Reading and the Financial Resolution.

Does that mean that my right hon. Friend anticipates that the Debate on the Financial Resolution will be as wide—and that we can then discuss the whole question of policy and detail—as on the Second Reading?

No. As my right hon. and gallant Friend knows, that is within the competence of the Chair, and I cannot answer that question.

Then may I ask you, Mr. Speaker?

That is entirely outside my province.

In my attempt to get at the responsible party, do I understand that if we approach the Chief Patronage Secretary through the usual channels there will be an allocation of two days as between the Second Reading and the Financial Resolution?

The hon. Member is not growing in his capacity for understanding. I suggest that discussion should take place between the various parties as to what will be the best allocation of time as between the two stages, and I cannot say anything more at the moment.

May I ask whether this means a change in the business already set down for Tuesday next?

No—that, I can say.

Motion made, and Question put, That the Proceedings on Government Business be exempted, at this day's Sitting, from the provisions of the Standing Order (Sittings of the House)."—[Mr. Baldwin.]

The House divided: Ayes, 287; Noes, 33.