HC Deb 31 July 1903 vol 126 cc1142-5

As amended (by the Standing Committee) further considered.

MR. COURTENAY WARNER (Staffordshire, Lichfield)

said the Amendment he proposed to move was to make the law permanent by giving these powers to any borough that should become large enough. If this Bill had passed 100 years ago, for instance, Birmingham would not have the powers because then it had not 20,000 inhabitants. When a borough grew to 20,000 inhabitants the conditions of life of the children changed from rural to urban and the powers given to the County Council were no longer sufficient. He begged to, move.

Amendment proposed to the Bill— In page 5, line 13, after the words 'nineteen, hundred and one' to insert the words 'or any subsequent census.'"—(Mr. Courtenay Warner.)

Question proposed, "That those words be there inserted in the Bill."

THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE HOME DEPARTMENT (Mr. COCHRANE Ayrshire, N.)

said the census obtained for the purposes of this Bill was the same as that obtained for the Education Act. The authority under that Act rested on the census of 1901. It would be extremely inconvenient to have a different authority for this Bill. Of course ultimately it might be necessary to have a redistribution scheme over the whole country.

MR. COURTENAY WARNER

said he had no wish to press the matter further.

Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.

THE SOLICITOR-GENERAL FOR SCOTLAND (Mr. SCOTT DICKSON Glasgow, Bridgton)

I beg to move.

Amendment proposed to the Bill— In page 5, line 24, to leave out Subsection (1)."—(Mr. Scott Dickson.)

Amendment agreed to.

MR. COURTENAY WARNER

said he had an Amendment to propose in line 34, with the object of bringing the English and Scotch systems into uniformity. He thought it would be an advantage to both countries.

Amendment proposed to the Bill— In page 5, line 34, after the word 'mean' to insert the words in the case of a school board with a population, according to the census of nineteen hundred and one, of over ten thousand the school board. '"—(Mr. Courtenay Warner.)

Question proposed, "That those words be there inserted in the Bill."

MR. SCOTT DICKSON

said the change would be inconvenient, so far as Scotch Local Government was concerned.

Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.

SIR CHARLES RENSHAW (Renfrew-shire, W.)

formally proposed an Amendment of Clause 12.

MR. CALDWELL

asked if it were in order. Was it competent to make such a financial change on Report?

MR. SPEAKER

I have made inquiries and I gather that the Amendment does not alter the incidence of rating.

Amendment proposed to the Bill— In page 6, line 28, to leave out the words general purposes rate,' and insert the words public health general assessment leviable within the county or a district of the county, provided that in any Royal. Parliamentary, or police burgh having, according to the Census of nineteen hundred and one, a population of less than seven thousand, a proportion of such expenses corresponding to the valuation of such burgh shall be paid to the County Council out of the public health general assessment leviable in such burgh, in compliance with a requisition to that effect to be sent to the town council of such burgh annually not later than the month of October in each year.'"— (Sir Charles Renshaw.)

Amendment agreed to.

Amendment proposed to the Bill— In page 6, line 30, to leave out from the word assessment,' to the word 'and,' in line 33."—(Sir Charles Renshaw.)

Amendment agreed to.

Amendments proposed to the Bill— In page 7, line 1, to leave out sub-section (3), and insert the words—The expression local authority' means in the case of an urban district with a population according to the census of nineteen hundred and one of over live thousand, the District Council and elsewhere the County Council. In page 7, line 4, after the word Proceedings' to insert the words under this Act.' In page 7, line 5, to leave out the words Corporation or County Council,' and insert the words 'local authority.' In page 7, line 6, to leave out the word 'the' and insert the word a.' In page 7, line 8, to leave out the words and costs to be.' In page 7, line 8, after the word 'incurred' to insert the words by a local authority.' In page 7, line 9, to leave out from the word 'defrayed' to end of clause, and insert the words in the case of the Conned of a county borough or of a District Council out of any rate or fund applicable to the purposes of the Public Health (Ireland) Act, 1878, and in the ease of a County Council out of the county fund, and in such case the amount required therefor may he raised by means of the poor rate equally over so much of the county as does not comprise any urban district the council whereof is constituted a local authority under this Act."—(Mr. Attorney General for Ireland.)

Amendments agreed to.

* THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE HOME DEPARTMENT (Mr. A AKERD DOUGLAS, Kent, St. Augustine's)

I hope the House will allow the Bill to be read a third time. It has been generally agreed to on both sides, and the alterations made in it have been very slight.

MR. EDMUND ROBERTSON (Dundee)

Do the Government propose to take any more business?

* MR. AKERS DOUGLAS

Only the Patriotic Fund Bill.

MR. LOUGH (Islington, W.)

pointed out that hon. Members had facilitated the progress of business in every way that day, and might be inclined to allow this Bill to be read a third time, but it was hardly fair to keep them at work much longer The Government might well be satisfied with the business done.