HC Deb 01 August 1924 vol 176 cc2459-61

Lords Amendment:

In page 25, lines 6 and 7, leave out "or one or more of them."

Sir K. WOOD

May we ask what this Amendment means? Is it a drafting Amendment? Might I suggest that it would be well if we had a Law Officer present? I see the Lord Privy Seal (Mr. Clynes). I have no doubt that he has observed the inconvenience in which the House is placed. Where is the Attorney-General this afternoon? Where is the Solicitor-General? Perhaps the Minister of Transport will tell us that at the same time that he explains the Amendment.

Mr. GOSLING

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

Sir LAMING WORTHINGTON-EVANS

It is really reducing the Debate to an absolute farce if Members of the Government cannot tell us what the Amendment is that they are asking us to agree to or disagree with, as the case may be. As I understand it the words in question are "of them." That means absolutely nothing unless the Transport Minister gives us the full text, and he ought certainly to be able to explain the matter. If the Minister, cannot do it, perhaps the Deputy-Leader of the House will do it or will allow one of the Law Officers to do it. This is a very bad example of making a laughing stock of the House.

Viscount CURZON

The last difficulty that arose was over the word "if," and we got no definition of that. Now I understand the difficulty is about the words "of them." May we hear from the Minister exactly what is referred to by these words. I submit that the House has a definite right to know from the Minister exactly what the Amendment means. I hope the information will now be forthcoming, in order that our minds may be set at rest.

Mr. GOSLING

On the first Clause in page 3, line 19, a certain Amendment was moved, and this present Amendment is purely consequential on that Amendment.

Lords Amendment:

In page 25, line 17, at end, insert with the exception of any matters dealt with by him in virtue of Section seven of this Act.

Mr. GOSLING

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

This is an Amendment which is purely consequential on the exclusion of the additional members for the consideration of Clause 7.