"It is for these powers that I am asking in the House this afternoon, I do not ask for them in the spirit Of panic. There is no need for panic but we are asking that in this emergency we should be given requis powers that may be needed.
"In order to pass the bill through all stages it will be necessary to move procedure by motion without notice. The Government asks the House to acquiesce in this procedure in view of the grave peril in which the nation stands today.
"The resolution is in precisely the same form as that moved in August of last year for the purpose of passing the original Emergency Powers Defence Bill through all its stages in the same day."
The Emergency Powers Defence Bill to which Mr, Attlee referred was published this afternoon. It extends powers exercised by the King under the Emergency Powers Defence Act of 1939. It states:
"By reason of development of hostilities since that date it has become necessary to extend the said powers in order to secure that the whole resources of the. community may be rendered immediately available when required for purposes connected with defence of the realm.
"An order in council may require persons to place themselves, their services and their property at the disposal of the King for securing public safety, defence of the realm, maintenance of public order or efficient prosecution of the war, and also for maintaining supplies or services essential to the life of the community,"
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.