HC Deb 03 June 1915 vol 72 cc48-9

(1) Notwithstanding anything in any Act, a Member of the House of Commons shall not vacate his seat by reason only of his acceptance, during the continuance of this Act, of an office of profit, if that office is an office the holder of which is by law capable of being elected to, or sitting, or voting in that House.

(2) This Act shall be deemed to have had effect as from the first day of May nineteen hundred and fifteen, and shall remain in operation until the dissolution of Parliament which takes place next after the termination of the present War.

(3) This Act shall not apply to the acceptances of any of the offices mentioned in the Schedule to this Act.

Amendment made: In Sub-section (1), leave out the words "during the continuance of this Act," and insert instead thereof the words "at any time during the months of May and June, 1915."—[Sir J. Simon.]

Sir J. SIMON

I beg to move, in Subsection (2), to leave out the words "and shall remain in operation until the Dissolution of Parliament, which takes place next after the termination of the present War."

Mr. KING

I should like a little more explanation of this Amendment.

Sir J. SIMON

The explanation can be given in one sentence, and it is that by making the date as from the 1st May it will cover anybody who was a Member of Parliament on the 1st of May.

Amendment agreed to.

Clause, as amended, ordered to stand part of the Bill.

Question proposed, "That the Bill, as amended, be reported."

Mr. KING

On that Motion I would like to point out that we do not know how long the Bill will continue, as the words which limit its operation to the first Dissolution of Parliament—

The CHAIRMAN

The occasion for the hon. Member's remarks will arise on the Report of the Bill.

Question put, and agreed to.

Bill, as amended, considered.

Motion made, and Question proposed, "That the Bill be now read the third time."

Sir H. DALZIEL

I desire to express my thanks to the Home Secretary for the manner in which he has met objections to this measure, and I hope this may be an indication of the general policy of the new Government, that they are willing to listen at all events impartially to the views of private Members in this House, and that if they think a case is made out for any practical suggestion which may be submitted they will approach it with a desire to give it favourable consideration. I thank the Home Secretary for this concession.

Bill read the third time, and passed.