Former MP for Preston
May I ask the Prime Minister whether, in view of the fact that the Election will take place on the 29th October, Parliamentary sanction is required, or, if not, have the Cabinet made any arrangement, in regard to the continuance of the British Empire Exhibition and any Government guarantee?
I wish again to protest against this form of Adjournment Motion. I make this protest periodically now in the hope that the private Members of the House of Commons will see that this method of Adjournment is steadily depriving them of the very few rights that remain to them in this House. If hon. Members will look at the form of the Motion, it practically amounts to this—that the House would...
I hope the Financial Secretary will not give way on this. One thing has struck me in listening to the discussion on this proposed new Clause, and that is that the speakers might have done better if they had collaborated. The Clause itself only demands that agents should have notice. Is it not a fact that at the present time they have got notice? The hon. Member who has just sat down spoke...
I am sure the hon. Gentleman knows me sufficiently well to believe that I would not wish to misrepresent him. But how are these agents to be discovered, and from whom are they to get notice?
Why should these gentlemen get notice in advance that they are to be responsible? They know it perfectly well at the present time.
Then I do not understand the reason for the Clause. If they do not understand that they are liable now, why do hon. Members come forward with this Clause to-day? I can well understand the difficulty the Exchequer is going to be in in trying to recover the tax if the agent is not to be held responsible for this money. We all know how slow the foreigner is in wishing to pay taxes in his own...
The particulars of an agreement are only asked for providing the business is controlled. It may be that the present Minister is very active and may well know exactly what to do, but he may go to the House of Lords. He may have a very inactive successor. We may have a Tory Government in office. I am not very old, but there is nothing sure in political life. We know the Opposition do not want...
In whose interest, then, are these returns being furnished?