HC Deb 21 June 1918 vol 107 cc686-8

[Progress, 20th June.]

Considered in Committee.

[Sir D. MACLEAN in the Chair.]

Question again 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."—[Mr. Roberts.]

Mr. BOOTH

I beg to move, at the end, to add the words, "provided that the sum to be expended shall not exceed £1,000 in any one year."

I presume, after the fair way in which the Minister has met us upon this point, the Amendment will be accepted. The sum suggested by the Minister was £500. I do not believe he will spend £1 more than is necessary, but I rather like the figure in, because it will show what a large amount of good may be done by a constructive Bill without a great drain upon the Exchequer.

The MINISTER of LABOUR (Mr. G. Roberts)

I accept the Amendment. I stated last night that the best estimate we were able to make would not involve an expenditure in excess of £500. I appreciate that the hon. Member is more concerned with the principle than with the amount, and I am glad to be able to meet his wish.

Mr. WATT

I desire to congratulate the right hon. Gentleman on accepting the limitation. There has been an outcry on the part of Members for some time that in these matters there should be a limitation of the amount of money to be spent. The House in no way binds the Department in the sum asked for, but it desires that a specific sum should be put into the measure. The sum desired in this case is £500, but my hon. Friend (Mr. Booth), with that magnanimity which characterises him, has made it double the desired figure. What the House will congratulate itself upon is that a definite limitation is made and that the right hon. Gentleman has shown himself open to accede to the desires of the House, which is most desirable in a case of this kind.

Amendment agreed to.

Question, as amended, put, and agreed to.

Resolution to be reported upon Monday next.

The remaining Orders were read and postponed.

Whereupon Mr. DEPUTY-SPEAKER (Sir D. Maclean) adjourned the House, without Question put, pursuant to Standing Order No. 3.

Adjourned at Twenty-one minutes after Two o'clock.