HC Deb 01 August 1924 vol 176 cc2453-4

Lords Amendment:

In page 20, line 18, leave out "tramcar or trolley vehicle" and insert "trolley vehicle or tramcar."

Mr. GOSLING

I beg to move, "That this House doth agree with the Lords in the said Amendment."

This is a purely drafting Amendment.

Mr. SPEAKER

Is it not consequential?

Mr. GOSLING

It was inserted at the instance of the Government, having been inadvertently omitted from the Amendments.

Sir K. WOOD

I think we had better have a little explanation of this. It sounds very much to me as though this were a consequential Amendment upon one originally introduced into the other place. I should not like the Minister of Transport to have anything in this Bill that he does not want. I would suggest to him he had better give us a complete explanation as to what is the meaning and effect of this Amendment.

Mr. H. MORRISON

Is not this an alteration of the position previously decided by this House which disagreed with the Lords Amendment? Surely the only safe thing to do at this stage of the Bill with its reference to tramcars and trolley vehicles is to disagree with the Lords Amendment?

Colonel ASHLEY

Was not this passed by the Lords and not printed by mistake? Is it not consequential? If there is anyone to blame, is it not the authorities of the other place?

Mr. WEBB

It is a question of definition. The definition has been made right in another place and it does not affect the operative Clauses. It does not in any way affect or import to have control over the tramways as some hon. Members seem to think.

Mr. KEENS

We ought to know something more about this. It is not clear how the thing stands.

Mr. SPEAKER

I am satisfied that this Amendment is not consequential, but. I will read it again: In page 20, line 18, leave out "tramcar or trolley vehicle," and insert instead thereof "trolley vehicle or tramcar".

Lords Amendment:

In page 20, line 24, at end insert: The expression 'tramway car' includes any carriage used on any street or road in the London traffic area by virtue of an order made under the Light Railways Act, 1896.

Motion made, and Question proposed, "That this House doth agree with the Lords in the said Amendment."—[Mr. Gosling.]

Mr. MARCH

I trust the House is not going to agree to this Amendment of the Lords. This is brought in for the purpose of bringing the tramways under the Act, and I hope the House will disagree with the Lords, and that this will not be included in the Bill.

Mr. GOSLING

I suggest that this House should agree in this case, because under certain transport systems in the area commonly spoken of as that "tramway system" are technically "light railways."