The Week in Parliament Our Parliamentary Correspondent writes : -The
Private Member is always complaining at the way in .which the Privy Councillors occupy mom than .theirfull share of Parliamentary time, but it is almost invariably the case that when they are absent the debate is a very lifeless dfair. This was certainly true of the discussion on foreign affairs on the motion for the Christmas adjourn- ment. No ex-Minister was in his place, and a fine opportunity was given to the back benehers of pre- senting their views to Mr. Eden, who remained on the Front Bench for 'every speech. But the debate never rose above the level of discursive chatter. Even Captain Macnamara, who was received with warm cheers on his return from Spain, and clearly had it in his power to make a useful contribution to the moulding of public opinion on the intervention issue, failed to grip the House. Technically it might have been " counted out " at any time, for there were never more than forty mem- bers present. It was hard on Mr. Eden, for he had an important speech to make for which he had obviously made careful preparation.
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