HC Deb 04 December 1916 vol 88 cc720-2

(1) There shall be transferred and attached to the Ministry of Pensions such of the persons employed under the Admiralty, the Commissioners of the said hospital, the Army Council, and the Statutory Committee, in or about the execution of the powers and duties transferred to the Minister of Pensions by this Act, as, subject to the consent of the Treasury, may be agreed between the several authorities above-mentioned and the Minister of Pensions.

(2) The Minister of Pensions may from time to time distribute the business of the Ministry amongst the several persons transferred thereto in pursuance of this Act in such manner as the Minister may think right, and those officers shall perform such duties in relation to that business as may be directed by the Minister: Provided that such persons shall, while they continue in office, be in no worse position as respects their tenure of office, salary, and superannuation allowances than they would have been had this Act not been passed.

Amendment made: In Sub-section (1), after the word "hospital," insert the word"and."—[Mr. Henderson.]

Mr. BARLOW

On a point of Order. Have we passed Clause 5?

Mr. DEPUTY-SPEAKER (Mr. Maclean)

Yes.

Mr. BARLOW

I have an Amendment on Clause 5.

Mr. DEPUTY-SPEAKER

We have passed Clause 5. I am sorry.

Mr. BARLOW

I should like to move it.

Mr. DEPUTY-SPEAKER

I am very sorry, but I think the hon. Member will agree with me that in substance the point was dealt with by a discussion which took place in Committee.

Mr. BARLOW

I would ask the indulgence of the House in the matter. This is the first opportunity that I have had of moving it.

Mr. DEPUTY-SPEAKER

It is my mistake, and I cannot do more than apologise to the hon. Member.

Mr. BARLOW

May I move it by the indulgence of the House?—[HON. MEMBERS: "No!"]

The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the LOCAL GOVERNMENT BOARD (Mr. Hayes Fisher)

I beg to move to leave out the words "and the Statutory Committee."

Major NEWMAN

This Amendment appears to me to be a fairly important one. Certain officials, I understand, are to be transferred from the Admiralty, from Chelsea Hospital, and from the Army Council, but the officials of the Statutory Committee are not to be transferred. Surely that raises a rather important point. How is this Committee going to be financed? The Chancellor of the Exchequer, we know, has granted £1,000,000 to this Committee for their work, and there was another £5,000,000 earmarked for them. Of course the offer of £1,000,000 holds good, but docs the offer of £5,000,000, and if it does not and no more funds are forthcoming, how is the Committee and its Sub-committee after the £1,000,000 is spent to do its work?

Mr. HAYES FISHER

The words proposed to be left out are redundant, inasmuch as the House has now put in a Clause stating that the powers of the Statutory Committee shall be exercised and performed by that Committee under the control of and in accordance with the instructions of the Minister of Pensions. It has given the Pensions Minister complete control over the Statutory Commitee. He can issue instructions to that Committee by which any of his officers may be transferred, and that Clause having been inserted, it is unnecessary to have these words.

Amendment agreed to.