Orders of the Day — Schedule 2. — (Relief from Temporary Customs Duty.)

Part of the debate – in the House of Commons at 12:00 am on 7 December 1964.

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Photo of Major Sir Henry D'Avigdor-Goldsmid Major Sir Henry D'Avigdor-Goldsmid , Walsall South 12:00, 7 December 1964

Third Reading is customarily the time when we try to abandon the making of debating points and concentrate on things which are of national importance. Before I do that, however, it is only right that we should pay a modest tribute to the Chancellor and his junior Ministers who have assisted him.

The right hon. Gentleman has not been here very much, for he has had other places to go to, but he has had very agreeable deputies and I must say that, although we were arguing before what was undoubtedly a panel of hanging judges, they delivered their verdicts—or, rather, read their briefs—with good manners, patience and charm. Perhaps the palm should go to the Minister without Portfolio, who was undoubtedly Judge Jeffreys in this bloody assize—or should I say bloody Committee?

I notice, too, that the Chancellor, returning from Paris, commented that when one has been in a typhoon a Force 9 gale is quite agreeable. I expect he would consider our debates here to be something in the nature of an autumn breeze. But he should realise that when we have spent as long as we have on this very simple Measure, we must wonder how we are to get through his main Budget in April—if he ever makes it—in as short a time as was taken for the Lloyd George Budget of 1909. I really do not know.