Part of the debate – in the House of Commons at on 8 February 1940.
Mr Neville Chamberlain
, Birmingham, Edgbaston
Yes, Sir. The business for next week will be:
Tuesday: Debate on Opposition Motion on the Railways Agreement and, if there is time. Report and Third Reading of the Industrial Assurance and Friendly Societies Bill.
Wednesday: Committee stage of the Agriculture (Miscellaneous War Provisions) Bill, and Motion to approve the Home-Grown Oats (Standard Price) Order.
Thursday: Motion to approve the Governor-General of India's Proclamation of Emergency, and consideration of draft Orders-in-Council proposed to be made under the Government of India and Burma Acts; and Second Reading of the Rating and Valuation (Postponement of Valuations) Bill.
The House will not sit on Friday.
It is hoped to conclude the Committee stage of the Agriculture Bill on Wednesday, but if more time is required, the Bill will be taken on Thursday after the Second Reading of the Rating and Valuation Bill.
The Second Reading is the most important stage for a Bill. It is when the main purpose of a Bill is discussed and voted on. If the Bill passes it moves on to the Committee Stage. Further information can be obtained from factsheet L1 on the UK Parliament website.
The Opposition are the political parties in the House of Commons other than the largest or Government party. They are called the Opposition because they sit on the benches opposite the Government in the House of Commons Chamber. The largest of the Opposition parties is known as Her Majesty's Opposition. The role of the Official Opposition is to question and scrutinise the work of Government. The Opposition often votes against the Government. In a sense the Official Opposition is the "Government in waiting".
