HC Deb 30 November 1914 vol 68 cc749-50

This Act may be cited as the House of Commons (Commissions in His Majesty's Forces) Act, 1914.

Sir J. SIMON

I beg to move to add, at the end of the Clause, the following new Sub-section:— (2) This Act shall not apply to any future Parliament or the Members thereof. This Amendment carries out an undertaking I gave on the Second Reading of the Bill. More than one hon. Member pointed out that if this Bill is to be treated as an emergency measure, it ought not to extend beyond the necessities of the present time.

Mr. HOGGE

Does that cover the possibility of the present Parliament going beyond the period of the Parliament Act? It occurred to me, while sitting here and reading the Amendment, that this is an emergency Bill, and I imagine it is possible, if the War is not over before this Parliament ends, that this Parliament will be extended for one year. Will the words cover that?

Sir J. SIMON

I should think that even if the lifetime of the present Parliament were extended it would still remain this present Parliament.

Mr. MORTON

It has been stated in the papers that if hon. Members purchase the new Loan Stock they will vacate their seats. Will you put that right in this Bill?

Sir J. SIMON

I do not think I am able to give a legal opinion on that point now, but it has been mentioned already in Debate, and it is the intention of the Chancellor of the Exchequer, in the Bill which is being introduced in regard to the loan, to make provision in order to safeguard that.

Mr. MORTON

In the meantime we must not take up any of the stock?

Question, "That those words be there added," put, and agreed to.

Clause, as amended, added to the Bill.

Bill reported; as amended, considered; read the third time, and passed.

The remaining Orders were read and postponed.

Whereupon Mr. DEPUTY-SPEAKER, pursuant to the Order of the House of the 12th November, proposed the Question, "That this House do now adjourn."

Question put, and agreed to.

Adjourned accordingly at Four minutes before Five o'clock, till Monday next, 23rd November.