23 APRIL 1937, Page 3

The Week in Parliament Our Parliamentary Correspondent writes : The

issue of Bilbao has overshadowed even the Budget. The Opposition has hammered the Government day after day upon it at question-time, and on Tuesday night they adopted the almost unprecedented step of opposing the customary adjournment of the House after the Budget statement in order to raise a full-dress debate on Spanish affairs. The Government Whips, indeed, were nearly caught napping. For the Opposition, discovering that little attempt had been made to prevent Government supporters from leaving the House, attempted to stage a snap division. But it was discovered in time. Frantic messages were sent round to the Clubs to recall Members to their duties, and in the end the Government enjoyed a comfortable margin of safety. As it was, however, there were only 119 in the Government lobby, and had the Opposition mustered in full force the Government would have had to face an awkward defeat.