In 1934, and again in 1937, there were angry debates
in the House of Commons on the subject of money resolutions. It was said, and with considerable justification, that these resolutions were being drafted with so much particularity as to make it impossible to move any substantial amendment to the Bill which followed. (No amendment to a Bill is in order which is inconsistent with the preceding money resolu- tion.) A Select Committee was set up and duly reported. Its main recommendations were not followed, but a circular was sent to the Departments instructing them that in future money regulations were to be so framed as not to restrict the scope within which Committees on Bills might consider amendments. This instruction seems to have made no per- ceptible difference and on two occasions in the last fortnight there have been further protests from the Opposition benches regarding the amount of detail included in resolutions of this kind. On Monday evening Mr. Herbert Morrison expressed the view that the Prime Minister's undertakings had been deliberately evaded by Ministers, including the Minister of Health. No doubt this is putting it too high, but it certainly appears remarkable that the protests of the House and the steps taken to meet the grievance have had so little apparent effect.
Previous page
