HC Deb 14 December 1926 vol 200 cc2818-9

Lords Amendment: In page 1, line 17, after the word "by," insert the words "or under the authority of."

Captain FRASER

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

Many local authorities adopt the practice of obtaining the assistance of certain Voluntary agencies in registering blind persons who live in their neighbourhoods. It is a convenience, both to the blind persons and the local authorities that that should be done. The object of this very small Amendment is to make it indubitably the ease that the local authorities can employ those agencies if they desire to do so.

Question put, and agreed to.

Lords Amendment: In page 1, line 20, at the end, add: The expenses incurred by a council under this section shall be defrayed in the case of a county council out of the county fund as expenses for general county purposes, and in the case of a county borough council out of the borough fund or borough rate. This Section shall apply to the City of London as if it were a county borough and the common council were the council of a county borough and the general rate were the borough fund or rate. (2) In the application of this Section to Scotland 'county borough' has the same meaning as in the Blind Persons Act, 1920, and the expenses incurred by a county or town council under this Act shall be defrayed in like manner as expenses under the said Act.

Mr. SPEAKER

I have to inform the House that this Amendment technically involves privilege. If the House sees fit to accept it, I shall make a special entry in the Journal, in order to protect our position in regard to privilege.

Captain FRASER

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

The object of the Amendment is simply to enable local authorities to charge the trivial expenses which will be incurred in issuing certificates to blind persons who require free licences upon the same fund as that to which they charge the other duties which they undertake for the benefit of the blind. These Amendments have been moved in another place at the instance of the London County Council, the Corporation of the City of London and the Scottish Office. They do not affect the principle of the Bill in any way, nor do they affect the blind persons. It is simply a matter of convenience for the local authorities concerned.

Question put, and agreed to.