HC Deb 11 November 1926 vol 199 cc1299-301

Amendment proposed [10th November]: In page 16, line 40, to leave out the words "alteration in," and to insert instead thereof the words "restrictions imposed by the Board on."—[Colonel Ashley.]

Question, "That the words 'alteration in' stand part of the Bill," put, and negatived.

Question proposed, "That those words be there inserted in the Bill."

Amendment proposed to proposed Amendment: To leave out the words "by the Board."—[Mr. Kelly.]

Question again proposed, "That the words proposed to be left out stand part of the proposed Amendment."

Mr. STEPHEN

Last night the Minister of Transport refused to accept this Amendment though he went some way in an endeavour to meet the anxiety that is felt in this matter. I am not altogether satisfied with what he said, and I would like him to tell us what objection there is to cutting out these words "by the Board." What is the fear in the mind of the Government if those words were omitted. I know it may be suggested that without those words various people would have certain claims in connection with restrictions who, in fact, should have no claim, but I would point out that everything is covered by Section 16 of the Act of 1919, which would rule out any sort of difficulty. Some of us are not at all convinced that what the Minister has said is going to safeguard the interest of the workpeople and I would like him to give us some idea what is in the mind of the Government, and some more definite assurance that the interests of individual workmen will be fully safeguarded, because, if anyone other than the Board—if the Minister of Transport or the Electricity Commissioners—are responsible for employés losing employment by reason of restrictions, then it is only fair that the same position should be taken up with regard to their action as with regard to the action by the Board. We desire to have something more definite with regard to the safeguarding of the interests of those employés.

Mr. HARDIE

I would like to put a question. Unless we have some assurance that it cannot operate under any conditions, it would mean, if it is only the Board, and the Board deputises some one else to impose the restrictions, that that would put them outside the area of compensation in this Bill. The Minister of Transport shakes his head, but we want to be quite clear about it. We want an assurance that there is going to be no chance of any loopholes anywhere, and that the alteration that is sought to be made now is going to leave out nobody, no matter where the restrictions come from or at what point applied.

The MINISTER of TRANSPORT (Colone1 Ashley)

In answer to the hon. Member for Springburn (Mr. Hardie), any restrictions imposed by a delegatee of the Board are actions done by the Board, and, therefore, if the Board delegates any of its duties, the position will be exactly the same as if those duties were performed by the Board. The Government propose, as I think I indicated last night, to accept the Amendment in the names of my right hon. Friend the Member for Ealing (Sir H. Nield), my hon. Friend the Member for Whitehaven (Mr. R. Hudson), and others, to insert, after the word "Board," the words "or by or under a scheme." That will make it perfectly watertight and ensure that these advantages will be given to the employés either by the Board itself, or by the delegatees of the Board, or by or under a scheme, and, therefore, there will be no one left out of the provisions of this Bill; that is to say, anybody affected by this Bill will come into a compensation scheme.

Mr. KELLY

In view of that very definite assurance, I wish to withdraw my Amendment.

Amendment to proposed Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.

Sir HERBERT NIELD

I beg to move, as an Amendment to the proposed

Amendment, in line 2, after the word "Board," to insert the words "or by or under a scheme."

Those who have asked me to associate myself with this Amendment have very carefully considered the words, and they are representatives of the Associated Municipal Electrical Engineers, the Electrical Power Engineers Association, the Association of Staff Officials of the Electrical Supply Companies of London, and the National Association of Local Government Officers. The matter has been thrashed out with the Department, and I am sure that every Member of the House will find that the words I am now moving will be adequate for all purposes.

Amendment to the proposed Amendment agreed to.

Proposed words, as amended, there inserted in the Bill.