HC Deb 27 February 1952 vol 496 cc1262-72

The Conservative Party if returned to power would strongly favour the repeal of the State management provisions contained in the 1949 Licensing Act, said Mr. Leonard R. N. Percey, general manager of the Licensed Victuallers' Defence League for England and Wales at the League's Council meeting at Portsmouth "—

Mr. Bing

Does he speak for the Conservative Party?

Sir H. Lucas-Tooth

Will the hon. and learned Gentleman wait a moment? The statement goes on: The Conservatives stated in reply to a request to clarify their attitude, that they had consistently opposed the principle of State trading in liquor. Mr. Morgan Phillips, Secretary of the Labour Party, had replied that when the Election manifesto had been approved at Scarborough he would send the League a copy. The Liberal reply said that the party believed it was a matter which should be left to the individual conscience. I submit to the House that there was something which might at any rate have put the machinery of Transport House into motion and they might perhaps have made some inquiry on that.

But this is not the only excerpt. I find in one of the evening newspapers, the "Evening Standard," a similar notice. I am afraid I have not been able to get it for this occasion, but I understand there was quite a feature in the "Morning Advertiser," and I gather that that is the favourite breakfast diet of the hon. Member for Ealing, North (Mr. J. Hudson). Presumably, one or two members of the Labour Party must have had some inkling of the Conservatives' promise in this respect.

The fact of the matter is that all this is really put up to try to produce some quite different effect. The right hon. Member for South Shields, in the course of his speech, began by saying that this Bill secured that every house erected in a new town shall be a tied house. That was the opening of his speech, and he did not seek to qualify that at all. I think that anyone listening to those words would have understood that that was, in fact, one of the expressed provisions of the Bill until, when he was challenged in the course of the debate, he was driven to admit that the Bill in fact does no such thing. All the right hon. Gentleman was able to say, rather lamely, I think, was that the practical working of the Bill means that every house will be a tied house.

I do not think the right hon. Gentleman is being altogether candid with the House in this respect because, after all, in the original legislation which this Bill seeks to repeal a house will be a tied house in the sense in which it has been used throughout this debate. [HON. MEMBERS: "No."] Hon. Members sitting behind the right hon. Gentleman, that is to say, those who are not teetotal and whose view is not that drinking should be abolished, have argued in favour of greater freedom.

The hon. Member for Wellingborough argued very strongly that what he wanted to see was greater variety of beer available to those who dwell in these new towns. The suggestion of the right hon. Gentleman sitting beside him, when taken with the other suggestions, was to the effect that we were taking away from those who dwell in the new towns the right to choose their own beer. [HON. MEMBERS: "You are."] Of course, we are doing nothing of the kind. If there ever was an absolutely tied variety of house, it is the house in the Carlisle area.

Mr. Lindgren

I am sure that the hon. Gentleman would not wish to be unfair. The fact is that the State house is not tied to a particular beer. The manager is free to buy beers of other breweries, and he is not tied to any particular one.

Sir H. Lucas-Tooth

As I understand the matter, in all the public houses in the city of Carlisle it is so.

We have been challenged on the score of the urgency of this matter. It is quite true that this is a relatively small matter in the whole field of our economy: but there was included in the Estimates for the current year a sum of £1 million to be expended on furthering the 1949 Act. That sum was not included by the present Government but by the former Government. The position now is that a sum of under £1,000 out of that £1 million has been spent.

As we know, however, many of the new towns are about to make a rapid development. When they do so, it will become urgently necessary to pursue whatever policy is to be pursued regarding the development of public houses. So a decision had to be taken whether we were to go ahead with the scheme of the 1949 Act or with the scheme to which we as a party were pledged. Rightly and properly, as I think, we decided to take urgent action to repeal such part of the 1949 Act as refers to this matter, and to substitute for it this Measure.

I think it is worth making the point that the amount of money involved here is quite considerable. There is no question merely of walking in and picking up all the money provided by the community by developing new towns and their drains. It means having to spend large sums of money on compensating for the acquisition of some 189 houses in England and Wales, and in due course further sums for building new houses to meet the needs of the population.

The opposition to this Bill has been based on two grounds which I do not think have great relevance to the Bill itself. One is what I might call the idealistic view, expressed by the hon. Member for Ealing, North—the teetotal view. The other is the ideological view expressed by a number of hon. Members opposite, including the hon. Member for Carlisle (Mr. Hargreaves), in favour of State enterprise. Both of the views are, fundamentally, more in the nature of prejudices than arguments. It is not every hon. Member, with the possible exception of the hon. Member for Ealing, North, who can be quite clear on either of them, and indeed the two lines of objection are to some extent mutually destructive.

As my hon. Friend the Member for Barnet pointed out, if we are believers in State enterprise and we want to make a success of it, to that extent we should not encourage people to go into public houses and encourage drinking. That is a genuine dilemma. Now, I put the same dilemma in another way, and in a way which I am certain hon. Members on both sides of the House feel it. The drink trade is a trade of a kind in which we should not wish the community as such to indulge. This is not a feeling which I have myself, but there are a good number of Members in this House, and certainly many people outside it, who feel that very strongly.

I make that point to show that the moral issue is not all on one side, but, whatever our political views may be, we have strong moral feelings about what ought to be done, and we do take exception to some hon. Members opposite reading us lectures on this score. I wish to assure the House that, as a party, we feel that there is a moral issue here, and that it is best resolved in the way which we propose in this Bill.

May I now say something about the practical issue, that is, the issue which is raised, perhaps, in the best way in the letter which appeared in "The Times" of 29th January, over the signature of Lord Astor and Mr. Seebohm Rowntree. There are only two practical arguments on the merits there put forward, and only two which have been put forward this evening.

First, it is suggested that this Bill, or perhaps I should say the original Act, has the effect of stopping the pushing of intoxicants by advertising, and secondly, that it is desirable to carry forward a further experiment in State management of the drink trade. As regards the question of pushing the sales of drink, I submit to the House that there is really nothing in that argument. So far as advertisements are concerned, they will continue, whether we have the 1949 Act or any other Act. The advertisements of the brewers will continue in exactly the same way. There is nothing in the Act which is being repealed which in any way restricts the brewers from advertising their wares. So far as I know, the publicans themselves have only one form of advertising, and that is a good house, with good amenities, and, if possible, an attractive inside. I think all of us would wish that form of advertising to be continued.

If there is nothing in the argument that the Act to be repealed prevents the pushing of the sale of beer, there is even less in the suggestion that the right place to carry out a further experiment in State trading in alcohol should be made in the new towns. So far as compensation is concerned, the amounts which will have to be paid in the case of the new towns is every bit as large as would have to be paid in any other case. Indeed, it is obvious that, as many of the public-houses will have to be built, because they cannot be bought as going concerns, the actual cost, on the whole, will probably be higher.

There is a very good reason indeed why an experiment should not be made in these particular cases. My hon. Friend the Member for Hemel Hempstead (Viscountess Davidson) made the point that there are the strongest local feelings about the advent of these new towns. They do not fit easily into their new surroundings. In a sense, new towns are like new boys at school. They have got to settle in. But if one starts them off by marking them with some special form of new clothes, or what one will, it makes it much more difficult for them to settle in and may perhaps warp their characters permanently.

New towns are quite unsuitable subjects for an experiment of this kind. The Carlisle district has a population of about 125,000, whereas the new towns have only from 10,000 to 80,000. I believe that these are dangerously small units for this purpose. We all agree that we wish to improve the new towns, but their standard can only be improved by proper supervision of a kind which all sides of the House think necessary. Even the area of Carlisle, which is more than twice that of the new towns, is not large enough for the purpose. That being so, it is at least questionable whether these are suitable units for the purpose.

The real difficulty facing us is that of getting proper planning and proper efficiency in development. We on this side believe that the way is not through State enterprise, but through the method proposed in this Bill, which we think will lead to the kind of public house that is suitable for people all over the country, and therefore I commend the Bill to the House.

Mr. Ede

Will the hon. Gentleman deal with the one specific question—?

Mr. Glanville

On a point of order. Would the right hon. Gentleman, if such he be, or hon. Gentleman—I know he is not dishonourable—consider an experiment on the lines of the Working Men's Club and Institute Union, where we have our own brewery, buy our own beer and pay our own way?

The Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury (Mr. P. G. T. Buchan-Hepburn)

rose in his place, and claimed to move, "That the Question be now put."

Question put accordingly, "That 'now' stand stand part of the Question."

The House divided: Ayes, 306: Noes, 266.

Division No. 34.] AYES [10.0 p.m.
Aitken, W. T. Churchill, Rt. Hon. W. S. Glyn, Sir Ralph
Allan, R. A. (Paddington, S.) Clarke, Col. Ralph (East Grinstead) Godber, J. B.
Alport C. J. M. Clarke, Brig. Terence (Portsmouth, W.) Gomme-Duncan, Col. A.
Amery, Julian (Preston, N.) Clyde, Rt. Hon. J. L. Gough, C. F. H.
Amory, Heathcoat (Tiverton) Cole, Norman Gower, H. R.
Anstruther-Gray, Maj. W. J. Conant, Maj. R. J. E. Graham, Sir Fergus
Arbuthnot, John Cooper, Sqn. Ldr. Albert Gridley, Sir Arnold
Ashton, H. (Chelmsford) Cooper-Key, E. M. Grimond, J.
Assheton, Rt. Hon. R. (Blackburn, W) Craddock, Beresford (Spelthorne) Grimston, Hon. John (St. Albans)
Astor, Hon. J. J. (Plymouth, Sutton) Cranborne, Viscount Grimston, Sir Robert (Westbury)
Baker, P. A D. Crookshank, Capt. R. Hon. H. F. C. Harden, J. R. E.
Baldock, Lt -Cmdr. J. M. Crosthwaite-Eyre, Col. O. E. Hare, Hon. J. H.
Baldwin, A. E. Crouch, R. F. Harris, Frederic (Croydon, N.)
Banks, Col. C. Crowder, John E. (Finchley) Harris, Reader (Heston)
Barber, A. P. L. Crowder, Petre (Ruislip—Northwood) Harrison, Col. J. H. (Eye)
Barlow, Sir John Cuthbert, W. N. Harvey, Air Cdre, A. V. (Macclesfield)
Baxter, A. B. Darling, Sir William (Edinburgh, S.) Harvey, Ian (Harrow, E.)
Beamish, Maj. Tufton Davidson, Viscountess Harvie-Watt, Sir George
Bell, Philip (Bolton, E.) De la Bère, R. Hay, John
Bell, Ronald (Bucks, S.) Deedes, W. F. Head, Rt. Hon. A. H.
Bennett, F. M. (Reading, N.) Digby, S. Wingfield Heald, Sir Lionel
Bennett, Sir Peter (Edgbaston) Dodds-Parker, A. D. Heath, Edward
Bennett, Dr. Reginald (Gosport) Donaldson, Comdr. C. E. McA. Henderson, John (Cathcart)
Bennett, William (Woodside) Donner, P. W. Hicks-Beach, Maj. W. W.
Bevins, J. R. (Toxteth) Doughty, C. J. A. Higgs, J. M. C.
Birch, Nigel Douglas-Hamilton, Lord Malcolm Hill, Dr. Charles (Luton)
Bishop, F. P. Drayson, G. B. Hill, Mrs. E. (Wythenshawe)
Blank, C. W. Dugdale, Maj. Rt. Hn. Sir T. (Richmond) Hinchingbrooke, Viscount
Boothby, R. J. G Duncan, Capt. J. A. L. Hirst, Geoffrey
Bossom, A. C. Duthie, W. S. Holland-Martin, C. J.
Boyd-Carpenter, J. A. Elliot, Rt. Hon. W. E. Hollis, M. C.
Boyle, Sir Edward Erroll, F. J. Holmes, Sir Stanley (Harwich)
Braine, B. R. Fell, A. Holt, A. F.
Braithwaite, Sir Albert (Harrow, W.) Finlay, Graeme Hope, Lord John
Braithwaite, Lt.-Cdr. G. (Bristol, N.W.) Fisher, Nigel Hopkinson, Henry
Bromley-Davenport, Lt.-Col. W. H. Fleetwood-Hesketh, R. F. Hornsby-Smith, Miss M. P.
Brooke, Henry (Hampstead) Fletcher, Walter (Bury) Horobin, I. M.
Brooman-White, R. C. Fletcher-Cooke, C. Horsbrugh, Rt. Hon. Florence
Browne, Jack (Govan) Fort, R. Howard, Gerald (Cambridgeshire)
Buchan-Hepburn, Rt. Hon. P. G T Foster, John Howard, Greville (St. Ives)
Bullard, D. G. Fraser, Hon. Hugh (Stone) Hudson, Sir Austin (Lewisham, N.)
Bullock, Capt. M. Fraser, Sir Ian (Morecambe & Lonsdale) Hudson, W. R. A. (Hull, N.)
Bullus, Wing Cmdr. E. E Fyfe, Rt. Hon. Sir David Maxwell Hulbert, Wing Cmdr. N. J.
Burden, F. F. A. Gage, C. H. Hurd, A. R.
Butler, Rt. Hon. R. A. (Saffron Walden) Galbraith, Cmdr. T. D. (Pollok) Hutchinson, Sir Geoffrey (Ilford, N.)
Carr, Robert (Mitcham) Galbraith, T. G. D. (Hillhead) Hutchison, Lt.-Com. Clark (E'b'rgh W.)
Carson, Hon. E. Gammans, L. D Hutchison, James (Scotstoun)
Cary, Sir Robert Garner-Evans, E. H. Hyde, Lt.-Col. H. M.
Channon, H. George, Rt. Hon. Maj. G. Lloyd Hylton-Foster, H. B. H.
Jenkins, R. C. D. (Dulwich) Mellor, Sir John Snadden, W. McN.
Jennings, R. Molson, A. H. E. Soames, Capt. C.
Johnson, Eric (Blackley) Monckton, Rt. Hon. Sir Walter Spearman, A. C. M
Johnson, Howard (Kemptown) Moore, Lt.-Col. Sir Thomas Speir, R. M.
Jones, A. (Hall Green) Morrison John (Salisbury) Spence, H. R. (Aberdeenshire, W.)
Joynson-Hicks, Hon. L. W. Mott-Radclyffe, C. E. Spens, Sir Patrick (Kensington, S.)
Kaberry, D. Nabarro, G. D. N. Stanley, Capt. Hon. Richard
Keeling, Sir Edward Nicholson, Godfrey (Farnham) Stevens, G. P.
Kerr, H. W. (Cambridge) Nicolson, Nigel (Bournemouth, E.) Steward, W. A. (Woolwich, W.)
Lambert. Hon. G. Nield, Basil (Chester) Stewart, Henderson (Fife, E.)
Lancaster, Col. C. G. Noble, Cmdr. A. H. P. Stoddart-Scott, Col. M.
Langford-Holt, J. A. Nugent, G. R. H. Storey, S.
Law, Rt. Hon. R. K. Oakshott, H. D. Strauss, Henry (Norwich, S.)
Leather, E. H. C. Odey, G. W. Stuart, Rt. Hon. James (Moray)
Legge-Bourke, Maj. E. A. H. O'Neill, Rt. Hon. Sir H. (Antrim, N.) Studholme, H. G.
Legh, P. R. (Petersfield) Ormsby-Gore, Hon. W. D. Summers, G. S.
Lennox-Boyd, Rt. Hon. A. T. Orr, Capt. L. P. S. Sutcliffe, H.
Lindsay, Martin Orr-Ewing, Charles Ian (Hendon, N.) Taylor, Charles (Eastbourne)
Linstead, H. N. Osborne, C. Taylor, William (Bradford, N.)
Lloyd, Rt. Hon. G. (King's Norton) Partridge, E. Teeling, W.
Lloyd, Maj. Guy (Renfrew, E.) Peake, Rt. Hon. O. Thomas, P. J. M. (Conway)
Lloyd, Rt. Hon. Selwyn (Wirral) Perkins, W. R. D. Thompson, Kenneth (Walton)
Lockwood, Lt.-Col. J. C. Peto, Brig. C. H. M. Thompson, Lt.-Cdr. R. (Croydon, W.)
Longden, Gilbert (Herts, S.W.) Peyton, J. W. W. Thorneycroft, Rt. Hn. Peter (Monmouth)
Low, A. R. W. Pilkington, Capt. R. A. Thornton-Kemsley, Col. C. N.
Lucas, Sir Jocelyn (Portsmouth, S.) Pitman, I. J. Tilney, John
Lucas, P. B. (Brentford) Powell, J. Enoch Touche, G. C.
Lucas-Tooth, Sir Hugh Price, Henry (Lewisham, W.) Turner, H. F. L.
Lyttelton, Rt. Hon. O. Prior-Palmer, Brig. O. L. Turton, R. H.
McAdden, S. J. Profumo, J. D. Tweedsmuir, Lady
McCallum, Major D. Raikes, H. V. Vane, W. M. F.
McCorquodale, Rt. Hon. M. S. Rayner, Brig. R. Vaughan-Morgan, J. K
Macdonald, Sir Peter (I. of Wight) Redmayne, M. Vosper, D. F.
Mackeson, Brig. H. R. Remnant, Hon. P. Wakefield, Edward (Derbyshire, W.)
McKibbin, A. J. Renton, D. L. M. Wakefield, Sir Wavell (Marylebone)
McKie, J. H. (Galloway) Roberts, Maj. Peter (Heeley) Walker-Smith, D. C.
Maclay, Hon. John Robertson, Sir David Ward, Hon. George (Worcester)
Maclean, Fitzroy Robinson, Roland (Blackpool, S.) Ward, Miss I. (Tynemouth)
MacLeod, Iain (Enfield, W.) Robson-Brown, W. Waterhouse, Capt. Rt. Hon. C.
MacLeod, John (Rose and Cromarty) Rodgers, John (Sevenoaks) Watkinson, H. A.
Macmillan, Rt. Hon. Harold (Bromley) Roper, Sir Harold Webbe, Sir H. (London & Westminster)
Macpherson, Maj. Niall (Dumfries) Ropner, Col. Sir Leonard Wellwood, W.
Maitland, Cmdr. J. F. W. (Horncastle) Russell, R. S. White, Baker (Canterbury)
Maitland, Patrick (Lanark) Ryder, Capt. R. E. D. Williams, Rt. Hon. Charles (Torquay)
Manningham-Buller, Sir R. E. Sandys, Rt. Hon. D. Williams, Gerald (Tonbridge)
Markham, Maj. S. F. Schofield, Lt.-Col. W. (Rochdale) Williams, Sir Herbert (Croydon, E.)
Marlowe, A. A. H. Scott, R. Donald Williams, R. Dudley (Exeter)
Marples, A. E. Scott-Miller, Cmdr. R. Wills, G.
Marshall, Douglas (Bodmin) Shepherd, William Wilson, Geoffrey (Truro)
Marshall, Sidney (Sutton) Simon, J. E. S. (Middlesbrough, W.) Wood, Hon. R.
Maude, Angus Smiles, Lt.-Col. Sir Walter York, C.
Maudling, R. Smithers, Peter (Winchester)
Maydon, Lt.-Cmdr. S. L. C. Smithers, Sir Waldron (Orpington) TELLERS FOR THE AYES:
Medlicott, Brig, F. Smyth, Brig. J. G. (Norwood) Mr. Herbert Butcher and Mr. Drewe
NOES
Acland, Sir Richard Brown, Rt. Hon. George (Belper) Dodds, N. N.
Albu, A. H. Brown, Thomas (Ince) Donnelly, D. L.
Allen, Scholefield (Crewe) Burke, W. A. Driberg, T. E. N.
Anderson, Alexander (Motherwell) Burton, Miss F. E. Dugdale, Rt. Hon. John (W. Bromwich)
Anderson, Frank (Whitehaven) Butler, Herbert (Hackney, S.) Ede, Rt. Hon. J. C.
Attlee, Rt. Hon. C. R. Callaghan, L. J. Edelman, M.
Awbery, S. S. Carmichael, J. Edwards, Rt Hon. Ness (Caerphilly)
Ayles, W H. Castle, Mrs. B. A. Edwards, W. J. (Stepney)
Bacon, Miss Alice Champion, A. J. Evans, Albert (Islington, S.W.)
Baird, J. Chapman, W. D. Evans, Stanley (Wednesbury)
Balfour, A. Chetwynd, G. R. Ewart, R.
Barnes, Rt. Hon. A. J. Clunie, J. Fernyhough, E.
Bellenger, Rt. Hon. F. J Cocks, F. S. Field, Capt. W. J
Bence, C. R. Coldrick, W. Fienburgh, W.
Benn, Wedgwood Collick, P. H. Finch, H. J.
Benson, G. Cook, T. F. Fletcher, Eric (Islington, E.)
Bevan, Rt. Hon. A. (Ebbw Vale) Corbet, Mrs. Freda Follick, M.
Bing, G. H. C. Cove, W. G. Foot, M. M
Blackburn, F. Craddock, George (Bradford, S.) Forman, J. C.
Blenkinsop, A. Crosland, C. A. R. Fraser, Thomas (Hamilton)
Blyton, W. R. Daines, P. Freeman, John (Watford)
Boardman, H. Dalton, Rt. Hon. H, Freeman, Peter (Newport)
Bottomley, Rt. Hon. A. G. Darling, George (Hillsborough) Gibson, C. W
Bowden, H. W. Davies, A. Edward (Stoke, N.) Glanville, James
Bowles, F. G. Davies, Ernest (Enfield, E.) Gooch, E. G.
Braddock, Mrs. Elizabeth Davies, Harold (Leek) Gordon-Walker, Rt. Hon. P. C.
Brockway, A. F. de Freitas, Geoffrey Greenwood, Anthony (Rossendale)
Brook, Dryden (Halifax) Deer, G. Greenwood, Rt. Hn. Arthur (Wakefield)
Broughton, Dr. A. D. D. Delargy, H. J. Grenfell, Rt. Hon. D. R.
Grey, C. F. MacPherson, Malcolm (Stirling) Silverman, Julius (Erdington)
Griffiths, Rt. Hon. James (Llanelly) Mallalieu, E. L. (Brigg) Silverman, Sydney (Nelson)
Griffiths, William (Exchange) Mallalieu, J. P. W. (Huddersfield, E.) Simmons, C. J. (Brierley Hill)
Hale, Leslie (Oldham, W.) Mann, Mrs. Jean Slater, J.
Hall, Rt. Hon. Glenvil (Colne Valley) Manuel, A. C. Smith, Ellis (Stoke, S.)
Hall, John (Gateshead, W.) Marquand, Rt. Hon. H. A. Smith, Norman (Nottingham, S.)
Hamilton, W. W. Mayhew, C. P. Snow, J. W.
Hannan, W. Mellish, R. J. Sorensen, R. W.
Hardy, E. A. Messer, F. Soskice, Rt. Hon. Sir Frank
Hargreaves, A. Mikardo, Ian Sparks, J. A.
Harrison, J. (Nottingham, E.) Mitchison, G. R. Steele, T.
Hastings, S. Monslow, W. Stewart, Michael (Fulham, E.)
Hayman, F. H. Morgan, Dr. H. B. W. Strauss, Rt. Hon. George (Vauxhall)
Healey, Denis (Leeds, S.E.) Morley, R. Stross, Dr. Barnett
Henderson, Rt. Hon. A. (Rowley Regis) Morris, Percy (Swansea, W.) Summerskill, Rt. Hon. E.
Herbison, Miss M. Morrison, Rt. Hon. H (Lewisham, S.) Swingler, S. T.
Hobson, C. R. Mort, D. L. Sylvester, G. O.
Holman, P. Moyle, A. Taylor, Bernard (Mansfield)
Houghton, Douglas Mulley, F. W. Taylor, John (West Lothian)
Hoy, J. H. Murray, J. D. Taylor, Rt. Hon. Robert (Morpeth)
Hubbard, T. F. Neal, Harold (Bolsover) Thomas, David (Aberdare)
Hudson, James (Ealing, N.) Noel-Baker, Rt. Hon. P. J. Thomas, Ivor Owen (Wrekin)
Hughes, Cledwyn (Anglesey) Oldfield, W. H. Thurtle, Ernest
Hughes, Emrys (S. Ayrshire) Oliver, G. H. Tomlinson, Rt. Hon. G.
Hughes, Hector (Aberdeen, N.) Orbach, M. Tomney, F.
Hynd, H. (Accrington) Oswald, T. Turner-Samuels, M.
Hynd, J. B. (Attercliffe) Padley, W. E. Ungoed-Thomas, Sir Lynn
Irving, W. J. (Wood Green) Paget, R. T. Usborne, H. C.
Isaacs, Rt. Hon. G. A. Paling, Rt. Hon. W. (Dearne Valley) Viant, S. P.
Janner, B. Paling, Will T. (Dewsbury) Wallace, H. W.
Jay, Rt. Hon. D. P. T. Pannell, Charles Watkins, T. E.
Jeger, George (Goole) Pargiter, G. A. Webb, Rt. Hon. M. (Bradford, C.)
Jenkins, R. H. (Stechford) Parker, J. Weitzman, D.
Johnson, James (Rugby) Paton, J. Wells, Percy (Faversham)
Johnston, Douglas (Paisley) Peart, T. F. Wells, William (Walsall)
Jones, David (Hartlepool) Plummer, Sir Leslie West, D. G.
Jones, Frederick Elwyn (West Ham, S.) Popplewell, E. Wheatley, Rt. Hon. John
Jones, Jack (Rotherham) Porter, G. White, Mrs. Eirene (E. Flint)
Jones, T. W. (Merioneth) Price, Joseph T. (Westhoughton) White, Henry (Derbyshire, N.E.)
Keenan, W. Price, Philips (Gloucestershire, W.) Whiteley, Rt. Hon. W.
Kenyon, C. Proctor, W. T. Wigg, G. E. C.
Key, Rt. Hon. C. W. Pryde, D. J. Wilcock, Group Capt. C. A. B.
King, Dr. H. M. Pursey, Cmdr. H. Wilkins, W. A.
Kinley, J. Rankin, John Willey, Frederick (Sunderland, N.)
Lee, Frederick (Newton) Reeves, J. Willey, Octavius (Cleveland)
Lee, Miss Jennie (Cannock) Reid, Thomas (Swindon) Williams, David (Neath)
Lever, Harold (Cheetham) Reid, William (Camlachie) Williams, Rev. Llywelyn (Abertillery)
Lever, Leslie (Ardwick) Rhodes, H. Williams, Ronald (Wigan)
Lewis, Arthur Richards, R. Williams, Rt. Hon. Thomas (Don V'll'y)
Lindgren, G. S. Robens, Rt. Hon. A. Williams, W. T. (Hammersmith, S.)
Lipton, Lt.-Col. M. Roberts, Albert (Normanton) Wilson, Rt. Hon. Harold (Huyton)
Logan, D. G. Roberts, Goronwy (Caernarvonshire) Winterbottom, Ian (Nottingham, C.)
Longden, Fred (Small Heath) Robinson, Kenneth (St. Pancras, N.) Winterbottom, Richard (Brightside)
MacColl, J. E. Rogers, George (Kensington, N.) Woodburn, Rt. Hon. A.
McGhee, H. G. Ross William Wyatt, W. L.
McGovern, J. Royle, C. Yates, V. F.
McInnes, J. Schofield, S. (Barnsley) Younger, Rt. Hon. K.
McKay, John (Wallsend) Shackleton, E. A. A.
McLeavy, F. Shinwell, Rt. Hon. E. TELLERS FOR THE NOES:
MacMillan, M. K. (Western Isles) Short, E. W. Mr. Pearson and Mr. Holmes
McNeil, Rt. Hon. H. Shurmer, P. L. E.

Question put, and agreed to.

Bill accordingly read a Second time.

Committed to a Committee of the whole House.—[Mr. Redmayne.]

Committee Tomorrow.