May I ask the Leader of the House whether he will state the business of the House for next week?

Yes, Sir. The business for next week will be as follows:

MONDAY, 9TH FEBRUARY—Second Reading of the Equal Pay (No. 2) Bill.

Motion relating to Sunday Cinematograph Entertainments in Runcorn.

TUESDAY, 10TH FEBRUARY—Second Reading of the Industrial Training Bill and of the Radiological Protection Bill [Lords].

Motions on the Sugar Beet (Research Education) (Increase of Contributions) Order and on the Patents (Amendment No. 2) Rules, 1969.

WEDNESDAY, 11TH FEBRUARY—Supply [11th Allotted Day]:

Until Seven o'clock there will be a debate on the Motor Industry which will arise on an Opposition Motion, and afterwards, on Mental Hospitals, on a Motion for the Adjournment of the House.

Motion on the Drivers' Hours (Goods Vehicles) (Modifications) Order.

THURSDAY, 12TH FEBRUARY—Second Reading of the Education Bill.

FRIDAY, 13TH FEBRUARY—Private Members' Bills.

MONDAY, 16TH FEBRUARY—Supply [12th Alloted Day]:

Debate on a topic to be announced later.

Will the Leader of the House now tell us the day next week on which the white paper on Europe will be published? Secondly, will he indicate the day on which the Chancellor of the exchequer will make his Budget statement?

We hope to publish the white paper next Tuesday, and my right hon. Friend is expected to make a statement on Europe.

My right hon. Friend the Chancellor has asked me to say that he will open his Budget on Tuesday, 14th April.

While thanking the Government for a positive response to the recommendations made by the Select Committee on Race Relations and Immigration concerning the problems of coloured school leavers, may I ask my right hon. Friend whether he can find time for a debate? Further, is my right hon. Friend aware that, although we have debated immigration 'on other occasions, we have not debated race relations as such?

Yes, I am aware of that. This is an important matter, and I understand my right hon. Friend's views on it. But I cannot find time in the next few days.

Will the right hon. Gentleman tell us when the Order announced in mid-December by the Minister of State, Department of Health and Social Security, to restrict unemployment benefit for certain occupational pensioners will be laid; and, when it is laid, will be give an undertaking that adequate time will be given for debating an Order which involves the introduction of a means test into National Insurance?

I cannot be specific on this. I will look into it. Perhaps I could have a word with the right hon. Gentleman.

Has my right hon. Friend studied Motion No. 122, standing in my name and the names of a large number of hon. Members, so far all on this side?

[That this House records its admiration for the contribution made by Bertrand Russell to science, literature, philosophy, the cause of peace and the general happiness of mankind.]

Will my right hon Friend either make a statement today or give time for a debate on that very great man Bertrand Russell, whom the Motion is about?

I have studied the Motion. I agree that he was a very distinguished figure, but I cannot find time to debate the Motion.

Is there much to he gained by debating next Thursday a Measure which will not have time to operate before it is due to be repealed?

I think that this is a very important Measure.

Will my right hon. Friend tell us whether the Secretary of State for Defence has considered his statement about a regrettable incident in Malaya and whether, in the light of his statement yesterday, he will issue a further statement either today or some time next week?

I have nothing to add to what I think was a fine statement yesterday.

The right hon. Gentleman has just said that he regards the Education Bill as a very important Measure.

Mr. Pearl:

Yes.

I am obliged. Would it not be right, therefore, to leave it in the hands of the House and give the public more time to consider it before we debate it?

I think that there is adequate time. I am sure that the hon. Gentleman has certain views on the matter. If he catches Mr. Speaker's eye, I am sure that he will make a contribution. I think that it is an important Measure.

In view of the delays that there have been in the reorganisation of the nuclear energy industry, may I ask the Leader of the House when he will be publishing his Bill on the fuel company?

This will come soon.

Has the right hon. Gentleman seen the terms of Motion No. 116, standing in the names of a large number of my right hon. and hon. Friends and myself? [That this House, on the termination of the Springbok tour, congratulates the visiting team and all the home teams on the sporting spirit displayed in their encounters and the police on their patience and efficiency under gross provocation; condemns the violence and lawlessness of some demonstrators and the encouragement which they have received from the approbation or condonation of their actions by others not themselves directly participating; reaffirms its belief in the rule of law and calls for the effective maintenance of law and order together with sharp and salutary sentences for those convicted of offences of violence and aggression.] In view of the contemporary and continuing importance of the subject, may I ask whether the right hon. Gentleman will give Government time to debate it?

I have seen the Motion, which I take to be an expression of opinion and not really a call for a debate. Anyway, not next week.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that the near mid-air collision which occurred over Wallasey this morning brings the figure for such occurrences over this country to 93 since 1963? As a matter of the utmost urgency, may I press my right hon. Friend to let the House have a debate on this subject in the very near future?

I cannot promise a debate on this matter, but I will make representations to my right hon. Friend about the seriousness of it. I know that many hon. Members are concerned about it.

In view of the fears which have been conveyed to the Chancellor of the exchequer by workers at the Royal Mint—representations which he has undertaken to consider—and in view of the failure of export orders for the Mint, stage 2 of the move to South Wales must now seriously be called into question. Therefore, will the Leader of the House arrange for his right hon. Friend to make a statement on this important subject next week?

I cannot do that. I think that the hon. Gentleman knows what the views are, and I cannot see why we should have a debate.

May I draw my right hon. Friend's attention to Motion No. 98, standing in my name and that of my hon. Friend the Member for Fife, West (Mr. William Hamilton), concerning nurses' pay. As there is a very real crisis not on the horizon but approaching very fast in the nursing profession, will he find time in the very near future to have a debate on the whole situation with regard to that profession?

[That this House urges Her Majesty's Government to implement in full, this year, the recent Whitley Council proposals on nurses' pay, as a first step towards the creation of a salary scale more appropriate to the value of the work rendered by all nursing staff.]

My hon. Friend has expressed an opinion. There have been discussions on the matter and statements have been made. I think that the Government's view is well known, and I cannot find time to debate this.

In view of the very serious strike figures last week, will the Government take over the excellent Industrial Relations (Improvement) Bill, standing in the name of my hon. Friend the Member for Basingstoke (Mr. David Mitchell)?

I cannot give that promise.

Has my right hon. Friend noticed that the list of Notices of Motions on the Order Paper relating to Bills to be introduced under the Ten Minutes Rule remains substantially the same as that which was published following the activities of the hon. Member for Tiverton (Mr. Maxwell-Hyslop)? What discussions have there been about this matter?

I would rather leave it as it is.

When may we expect this year's Defence white paper to be published?

I cannot give the exact date, but it will be very soon, and we shall of course have a debate on it.

Has my right hon. Friend given thought to the request in Motion No. 81, and if so, has he come to any decision? [That this House regrets that the rules of order and precedents on the taking of Private Members Bills prevented Mr. Speaker from accepting the Motion, That the Question be now put, during the debate on the Conservation of Seals Bill; believes that the filibustering tactics of certain members of the Conservative benches were a disgraceful abuse of the House, designed solely to prevent the House reaching a decision on the Deer Hunting and Hare Coursing Abolition Bill; and urges the Government to make time available for a full debate on the Deer Hunting and Hare Coursing Abolition Bill at the earliest opportunity.]

I know that this relates to Private Members' Bills, and I will look into this with sympathy.

Will the Leader of the House reconsider his answer to my right hon. and learned Friend the Member for Hertfordshire, East (Sir D. Walker-Smith) about Motion No. 116 on law and order? Does he realise that in view of forthcoming events this is a most important matter, that we need a debate on it, and that he must not just brush it aside?

I am not brushing it aside. I believe that when right hon. and hon. Members put down a Motion they also do it to express an opinion. This is important. But I cannot arrange for a debate on this matter.

Can my right hon. Friend give us an assurance that we shall have an early debate on the Middle East in view of the very grave situation there?

I cannot promise another foreign affairs debate immediately.

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman once again when we shall have a debate on the white paper on air transport? Will he be a little more forthcoming than merely to say, "Not next week"?

I am only being precise when I say "next week". It will not be next week. In view of the representations I will look at this, but I cannot promise.

May I remind my right hon. Friend of the need for an early debate on the Report of the Select Committee on Science and Technology on defence research?

It is an important Report, and I pay tribute to my hon. Friend and the members of an important Select Committee, but I cannot promise a time. There are many Reports that must be considered.

Has the right hon. Gentleman given consideration to Motion No. 118 in my name calling for the publication to hon. Members of the secret report of the Scottish Economic Planning Board on Scottish emigration, as it is apparently already in the hands of the Press? [That this House calls upon the Secretary of State for Scotland to make available to Members the secret report of the Scottish Economic Planning Board on emigration so that the serious nature of the allegations made in the Scotsman newspaper may be examined by the House and not confined to Cabinet Ministers and non-elected officials.]

I have noted the Motion. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland answered questions on the matter on 2nd February. I have nothing to add to that. I cannot find time for a debate in the House.

In view of the continuing secret discussions between this country and Libya, which could involve the sale of advanced British weapons which might thereby fall into other hands, can my right hon. Friend promise the House that before any agreement is reached between this country and Libya the House will have an opportunity to debate the matter and make our decision on whether we want the agreement to go ahead?

I cannot promise a debate on this. It is obviously a matter for my right hon. Friend the Foreign and Commonwealth Secretary, to whom I will convey my hon. Friend's views.

The Leader of the House said that he will look sympathetically at Motion No. 81, which calls for time for a certain Private Member's Bill. Will he look equally sympathetically at Motion No. 114, which calls for time to be given to a Bill of great importance to a large number of very old pensioners? [That this House regrets that the rules of order and precedents on the taking of Private Members' Bills prevented Mr. Speaker from accepting the Motion, That the Question be now put, during the debate on the National Insurance (Further Provisions) Bill; believes that the filibustering tactics of certain members of the Government benches were a disgraceful abuse of the House, designed solely to prevent the House reaching a decision on the National Insurance (Further Provisions) Bill; and urges the Government to make time available for a full debate on the National Insurance (Further Provisions) Bill at the earliest opportunity.]

That matter was debated only last Friday. [Interruption.] Hon. Members know the procedure of the House. I do not think that it arises on this occasion.

In view of the somewhat excessive demands that have been made from both sides of the House to discuss Early Day Motions and a variety of topics, and deal with a great mass of legislation, could my right hon. Friend use his influence to delay the General Election for another few years?

Not next week.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the Beeching Report on the courts and the Law Commission Report on the interpretation of Statutes each recommends important changes of principle which have not yet been debated in the House, although Clauses based on those recommendations have been slipped into legislation now before us? Will he provide an early opportunity for us to debate these important changes of principle before we go further with legislation based upon them?

The right hon. and learned Gentleman, with his great interest in this matter, has highlighted an important point. I will look into the question sympathetically and then perhaps he and I could get together and have a word about it.

Will my right hon. Friend confirm that since the terrible fishing disaster in Hull two years ago both he and the House have been expecting legislation about the design and building of trawlers? When are we to have this legislation? I believe that it was mentioned in the Queen's Speech.

That is a reasonable question. I cannot promise a specific date when a Bill will be published, but we shall get it.

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman about next Wednesday's second item of business on mental hospitals? Is he aware that many other aspects of the problem of mental health are of great importance, quite apart from the mental hospitals, and that the House would like to have time to debate the care of the mentally ill within the community and the research work of the Medical Research Council on this matter? Will he confirm that it will be in order to discuss those topics on the same occasion?

The hon. Gentleman will appreciate that I announced that the debate would be on a Motion for the Adjournment of the House.

In view of the continuing uncertainty for the hundreds of workers involved, can the Government promise a statement next week on their intentions with regard to the Beagle Aircraft Company employees?

I will convey my hon. Friend's question to my right hon. Friend the Minister of Technology. I recognise the seriousness of the matter to many workers employed in the aircraft industry.

Mr. Edward M. Taylor:

Is the Leader of the House aware of the very real concern and anxiety of ratepayers in the West of Scotland over the Government's proposals to establish a passenger transport authority for the greater Glasgow area? Can he assure us that we shall have an early discussion on this vital matter?

I cannot promise a debate on it, but I will make representations to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State about it.

Further to the request of my hon. Friend the Member for Reading (Mr. John Lee), who, incidentally, asked for a debate not on foreign affairs but on the Middle East, as a spark from that region might set the world alight, does not my right hon. Friend feel that time should be given for a debate on the Middle East?

I thought that my hon. Friend was going to say that I was wise to resist a debate for the reasons given.

In view of the Freudian slip by the Home Secretary about wanting to regiment the smaller dairy farmers into the State system, will the Leader of the House arrange an early debate on Motion No. 117? [That this House deplores the statement attributed to the Secretary of State for the Home Department and the implied suggestion that a farm of over 50 acres with 50 cows is not a viable unit; points out that the average dairy herd in this country is 33 cows and that many small farmers are both efficient and playing a vital rôle in the nation's economy; and calls upon the Government to confirm their support of the small farmers in this country.]

I cannot. My right hon. Friend has always been a great defender of the farming community. I believe that the Government's record on small farmers, certainly when I was Minister, and I know still —

Order. The Freudian slip of the questioner and the answer of the Leader of the House are drifting into merits. This is business Question Time.

I cannot find time next week.

Would my right hon. Friend note that it is not only hon. Members opposite who are concerned that there has as yet been no debate on the Beeching Report, which is recasting the whole administration of justice in this country? Would he now have discussions with the Lord Chancellor so that we can have a debate in this House?

I thought that I gave a sympathetic reply to the right hon. and learned Member for Huntingdonshire (Sir D. Renton). I will make representations, but I cannot promise a debate. Of course, the Report affects the administration of justice, but I cannot find time next week.

Can the right hon. Gentleman provide us with a list of the unredeemed pledges of the Prime Minister so that we can have a comprehensive debate on the subject?

I think that my right hon. Friend will be able to handle this in his own way.

Since the Government yesterday fired two barrels at local education authorities in the white paper and in the Education Bill, would it not be more considerate and more consonant with their protestations about local government to allow two clear weekends before either the Bill or the White Paper is debated?

No, I think that there is adequate time. Hon. Members know the details of this, really. The hon. Gentleman will have his opportunities.

Just for the record, is the right hon. Gentleman aware that, to my great surprise, last week I found that there was a space for a Ten-Minute Bill in the week after next and that, in default of any hon. Member opposite wanting it, I got it?

I congratulate the hon. Member on his initiative.

"God moves in a mysterious way."

In view of the profoundly serious nature of the white paper on our entry of Europe, would the right hon. Gentleman, when he gives future business recognise that many of us would like quite a long time to study this matter very seriously—I would say, three weeks—and that we should not have a debate on it for at least three weeks?

I am aware of this, but I feel that hon. Members will have adequate time to study it. I should have thought that certain hon. Members had certain fixed positions already.