May I ask the Prime Minister whether he will state the forth coming Business?

I propose to make a statement to-day on the War Situation, which no doubt the House will wish to debate.

Second Sitting Day—As already announced, we shall consider the recent Reports from the Committee of Privileges. The Grampian Electricity Supply Order Confirmation Bill, as the House is aware, has been set down for consideration by the Chairman of Ways and Means. We pro pose to table a Motion to enable the Bill to be considered immediately in the event of Government Business being concluded before the hour appointed.

Third Sitting Day—We shall make progress with the following Bills: Local Government (Financial Provisions) (Scot land) Bill; India and Burma (Postponement of Elections) Bill (Lords); and Solicitors Bill (Lords). We also propose to take the Motion to approve the draft Prices of Goods Act, 1939 (Amendment of First Schedule) Order.

It may be convenient for hon. Members to have information as to the future Sit tings of the House. We propose that there should be a further Adjournment after the Third Sitting Day, and we shall propose a Motion on the Second Sitting Day. A statement will be made later in regard to forthcoming Business.

May I ask the Prime Minister this question? If in the course of the statement he proposes to make to-day he finds himself prevented or hampered from making the fullest statement on the matter which is upper most in all our minds, namely, the assistance which is being rendered to Russia now, or will be rendered, will he, if he thinks profit would come thereby to the enemy, consider holding part of the proceedings in Secret Session either to-day or on some other day?

The House is rather difficult to please in these matters. When we debate in secret there are demands for a Debate in public, and when we debate in public it is suggested that the Debate should be in secret. I can only say that I shall endeavour to give satisfaction to whichever mood is uppermost.

May I assume that the statement the right hon. Gentleman will make will be as full in public as it would be in Secret Session?

I think it would be very dangerous to make an assumption of that kind. It is rather unnecessary, considering that the hon. and learned Gentleman is about to hear what I have to say.

Do we understand the Prime Minister correctly when he says it is proposed after the third Sitting Day to ask for an Adjournment of the House for a further period?

Yes, Sir.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that this announcement will give rise to considerable dissatisfaction in many parts of the country? If the Government have not Business with which to engage the House, will the Prime Minister give some of us an opportunity of consulting with him in order that we may propose some Business? Does he not realise that considerable harm will be done to Parliament if the House again adjourns? [Interruption.]

In these matters one follows precedent—

The war does not.

— and the precedents of the last war were very instructive.

This is a very serious matter. If the right hon. Gentleman does insist on the House adjourning, some of us might insist upon a Divison.

Even that would not deter me from pursuing a course which I thought was for the general convenience.

Can the right hon. Gentleman give the House an indication now of how long the Adjournment will be for, because it might help us to make up our minds?

Obviously the length of the Adjournment is a material point, and on that a statement will be made on the next Sitting Day.

Will not the right hon. Gentleman reconsider this matter, in view of the demands being made upon workers to suspend and limit holidays? This is a very bad example to the country.

The labours of the House are not measured by the length of our Sittings any more than are the contributions of Members measured by the number of their speeches