HC Deb 18 November 1919 vol 121 cc444-5

Any award determining or varying a rate which has been made by the Interim Court of Arbitration under the Wages (Temporary Regulation) Act, 1918, before the twenty-first day of November, nineteen hundred and nineteen, shall have effect as if it were an award made under this Act, whether such award would have come into operation after the said twenty-first day of November, nineteen hundred and nineteen or not.—[Mr. A. Henderson.]

Brought up, and read the first time.

Mr. HENDERSON

I beg to move, "That the Clause be read a second time."

I am anxious to know if it is intended that the award given within the last two days would be included. We think that unless some provision is made there may be confusion and disappointment as a result of that award not having statutory sanction, and I would like the right hon. Gentleman to consider this new Clause from that standpoint.

Sir R. HORNE

The point my right hon. Friend has made has been clearly in my view ever since we first began discussing the draft of the Bill. Between the two provisions, which I will refer to, the point of my right hon. Friend makes is completely covered. The Amendment which has been made to Clause 6 goes even further than the point which my right hon. Friend put to me, because it not only preserves the legal efficacy of awards already given, but it will not have come into operation before the expiry of the Act, and it gives efficacy to cases which may be referred to the Court before the expiry of the Act. Therefore, the Amendment goes further than the right hon. Gentleman asks. On this point we should take along, with what I have suggested, my Amendment to the scheme, which reads the power to substitute any rate for the prescribed rate shall cease, without prejudice, however, to the enforceability of any rate substituted for the prescribed rate before the commencement of this Act, whether the substituted rate has or has not come into operation before that date. I think in those two provisions you have the whole matter clearly covered.

Motion and Clause, by leave, withdrawn.