HC Deb 20 June 1918 vol 107 cc642-4

Considered in Committee.

[Mr. J. W. WILSON in the Chair.]

Motion made, and Question proposed, "That it is expedient to authorise the payment, out of moneys to be provided by Parliament, of such further expenses as the Minister of Labour may be authorised to incur under any Act of the present Session to amend the Trade Boards Act, 1909."

The MINISTER of LABOUR (Mr. George Roberts)

Might I just offer a word of explanation? The only expense involved in this Bill if passed into law arises out of holding an inquiry, which may be necessary. Of course, we have to provide for all contingencies, and I am advised that the expenditure in any one year is not likely to exceed £500.

Mr. BOOTH

I beg to move, to add the words, "not exceeding the sum of £1,000 in any one year."

I am much obliged to my right hon. Friend for being frank, but this is a matter in which the Leader of the House has laid down the policy of the Government. It is not for a back-bencher to suggest or deal with these things. I hope the various Ministers will take the trouble if they were not present in the House, to read exactly what the Chancellor of the Exchequer said. The last time this question was up, I put a specific question, and on the Report stage of the Emigration Expenses Resolution. A limit was subsequently put in, which I myself offered to that Minister a few minutes before eleven o'clock, nearly a fortnight before. If he had taken my offer then we should have saved much time. The Leader of the House said, in answer to my question, that where possible the Government would put a figure in, and where not, the Minister would attend and explain why it was impossible.

11.0 P.M.

My right hon. Friend had the courtesy to come and explain this matter, and has made a record for the first time by a Minister, for in producing this Resolution he has made this declaration to the House. In doing so he has rather convinced us that this case is a very suitable one for the observations I am making. Therefore I trust when he puts his Resolution on the Paper to-morrow that he will put in, say, £1,000—he suggests £500. If he had said £1,000 or £2,000 it would have been better, for there would be no dubiety about it.

It being Eleven of the clock, the Chairman left the Chair to make his Report to the House.

Committee report Progress; to sit again To-morrow.

The remaining Orders were read, and postponed.

Whereupon Mr. SPEAKER, pursuant to the Order of the House of the 13th February, proposed the Question, "That this House do now adjourn."

Mr. BOOTH

May I take it we shall be able to get a copy of Mr. Justice Atkin's Report? May I suggest that if the copy only comes to-morrow that the Bill should not be taken to-morrow, which is a short day?

Lord EDMUND TALBOT (Joint Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury)

We are postponing it till Monday.

Mr. BOOTH

I thank the Noble Lord. It is a matter, I know, of delivery from the printers. I have little doubt but that we shall have the copies to-morrow, and that it will be reasonable to take the matter on Monday.

Question put, and agreed to.

Adjourned accordingly at Two after Eleven o'clock till To-morrow, pursuant to the Resolution of the House this day.