HL Deb 25 March 1969 vol 300 cc1141-3

2.48 p.m.

THE JOINT PARLIAMENTARY UNDER-SECRETARY OF STATE FOR SCOTLAND (LORD HUGHES)

My Lords, I beg to move that this Bill be now read a third time.

Moved, That the Bill be now read 3ª. —(Lord Hughes.)

On Question, Bill read 3ª, with the Amendments.

Clause 1 [Use of spring traps other than approved traps no longer to be authorized]:

LORD HUGHES moved Amendment No. 1: Page 1, line 5, at beginning insert ("Subject to section 2 of this Act,")

The noble Lord said: My Lords, there are two Amendments to this Bill and I propose to speak to them together. The Amendments are consequential upon the new clause, now Clause 2, which was moved by the noble Lord, Lord Burton, and carried on a Division at Report. They are drafting Amendments, the effect of which is to make the new clause acceptable and to fit it in properly with the text of the Bill. The first clause removes, from the appointed day, the Secretary of State's power to make and withdraw orders authorising the use of unapproved traps, subject, in the terms of the first Amendment, to Clause 2, which removes that power so far as otters are concerned from the earlier date. The second Amendment corrects the way in which Clause 1 is referred to in Clause 3. This is necessary because the new clause has been inserted as Clause 2, and the original clause has become Clause 3.

Perhaps your Lordships will bear with me while I briefly draw attention to one consequence of the new clause, which does not, however, give rise to an Amendment. The clause will have the effect of repealing completely the present order authorising the use of gin traps against both foxes and otters. The order will not be repealed only in so far as it applies to otters, which I am sure was the intention of the noble Lord, Lord Barton. However, this does not present us with insuperable difficulties, because the Secretary of State can readily make an order authorising the use of gin traps against foxes only to come into operation on July 1. That order would, in turn, be nullified on the appointed day referred to in Clause 3 of the Bill. On the assumption that the Bill is enacted in its present form, it would be the intention of my right honourable friend the Secretary of State to proceed in this way. I beg to move.

On Question, Amendment agreed to.

Clause 3 [Meaning of appointed day]:

LORD HUGHES

My Lords, I beg to move Amendment No. 2.

Amendment moved— Page 1, line 21, leave out ("the foregoing section") and insert ("section 1 of this Act"). —(Lord Hughes.)

On Question, Amendment agreed to.

LORD HUGHES

My Lords, I beg to move that the Bill do now pass.

Moved, That the Bill do now pass.—(Lord Hughes.)

On Question, Bill passed, and returned to the Commons.