HC Deb 08 December 1927 vol 211 cc1639-49
Mr. A. GREENWOOD

I beg to move, in page 2, line 26, to leave out Sub-section (1).

Under the ruling given by Mr. Speaker, it was understood that this Amendment and the following one, which stands in the name of my hon. Friend the Member for Shipley (Mr. Mackinder)—in page 2, line 26, to leave out the words "commencement of this Act," and to insert instead thereof the words "fourth day of January, nineteen hundred and twenty-nine,'—were to be moved formally.

Question put, "That the words proposed to be left out, to the word 'commencement,' in line 26, stand part of the Bill."

The House divided: Ayes, 224; Noes, 125.

Division No. 453.] AYES. [5.46 p.m.
Acland-Troyte, Lieut.-Colonel Clarry, Reginald George Gunston, Captain D. W.
Alexander, E. E. (Leyton) Cobb, Sir Cyril Hacking, Douglas H.
Applin, Colonel R. V. K. Cockerill, Brig.-General Sir George Hall, Capt. W. D'A. (Brecon & Rad.)
Ashley, Lt.-Col. Rt. Hon. Wilfrid W. Cope, Major William Hanbury, C.
Astbury, Lieut.-Commander F. W. Craig, Capt. Rt. Hon. C. C. (Antrim) Hannon, Patrick Joseph Henry
Atholl, Duchess of Craig, Sir Ernest (Chester, Crewe) Harland, A.
Atkinson, C. Crookshank, Col. C. de W. (Berwick) Harmsworth, Hon. E. C. (Kent)
Balniel, Lord Crookshank, Cpt. H. (Lindsey, Gainsbro) Harrison, G. J. C.
Barclay-Harvey, C. M. Cunliffe, Sir Herbert Hartington, Marquess of
Barnston, Major Sir Harry Curzon, Captain Viscount Harvey, G. (Lambeth, Kennington)
Beamish, Rear-Admiral T. P. H. Davidson, Major-General Sir John H. Harvey, Major S. E. (Devon, Totnes)
Beckett, Sir Gervase (Leeds, N.) Davies, Maj. Geo. F. (Somerset, Yeovil) Hawke, John Anthony
Benn, Sir A. S. (Plymouth, Drake) Davies, Sir Thomas (Cirencester) Headlam, Lieut.-Colonel C. M.
Berry, Sir George Davies, Dr. Vernon Henderson, Capt. R. R. (Oxf'd, Henley)
Bethel, A. Dean, Arthur Wellesley Henderson, Lt.-Col. Sir V. L. (Bootle)
Betterton, Henry B. Drewe, C. Heneage, Lieut.-Colonel Arthur P.
Blades, Sir George Rowland Edmondson, Major A. J. Hills, Major John Waller
Blundell, F. N. Elliot, Major Walter E. Hilton, Cecil
Bourne, Captain Robert Croft Ellis, R. G. Hopkins, J. W. W.
Bowyer, Capt. G. E. W. Erskine, Lord (Somerset, Weston-s.-M.) Hopkinson, Sir A. (Eng. Universities)
Briggs, J. Harold Everard, W. Lindsay Hopkinson, A. (Lancaster, Mossley)
Brocklebank, C. E. R. Falle, Sir Bertram G. Howard-Bury, Colonel C. K.
Brooke, Brigadier-General C R. I Fanshawe, Captain G. D. Hudson, Capt. A. U. M. (Hackney, N)
Broun-Lindsay, Major H. Fermoy, Lord Hume, Sir G. H.
Brown, Col. D. C. (N'th'l'd., Hexham) Fielden, E. B. Huntingfield, Lord
Brown, Brig.-Gen. H. C. (Berks, Newb'y) Forestier-Walker, Sir L. Hurd, Percy A.
Buckingham, Sir H. Foster, Sir Harry S. Hurst, Gerald B.
Bull, Rt. Hon. Sir William James Frece, Sir Walter de Iliffe, Sir Edward M.
Burman, J. B. Fremantle, Lieut.-Colonel Francis E. Inskip, Sir Thomas Walker H.
Burton, Colonel H. W. Galbraith, J. F. W. Iveagh, Countess of
Cadogan, Major Hon. Edward Ganzoni, Sir John Jephcott, A. R.
Caine, Gordon Hall Gates, Percy Jones, G. W. H. (Stoke Newington)
Campbell, E. T. Gault, Lieut.-Col. Andrew Hamilton Kennedy, A. R. (Preston)
Carver, Major W. H. Gibbs, Col. Rt. Hon. George Abraham Kindersley, Major G. M.
Cassels, J. D. Gilmour, Lt.-Col. Rt. Hon. Sir John King, Commodore Henry Douglas
Cautley, Sir-Henry S. Glyn, Major R. G. C. Kinloch-Cooke, Sir Clement
Cayzer, Maj. Sir Herbt. R. (Prtsmth, S.) Gower, Sir Robert Knox, Sir Alfred
Cecil, Rt. Hon. Sir Evelyn (Aston) Grace, John Lamb, J. O.
Chamberlain, Rt. Hon. N. (Ladywood) Grattan-Doyle, Sir N. Lister, Cunliffe-, Rt. Hon. Sir Philip
Chilcott, Sir Warden Greene, W. P. Crawford Locker-Lampson, G. (Wood Green)
Christie, J. A. Grotrian, H. Brent Locker-Lampson, Com. O. (Handsw'th)
Churchman, Sir Arthur C. Guinness. Rt. Hon. Walter E. Looker, Herbert William
Lowe, Sir Francis William Pennefather, Sir John Stanley, Lieut.-Colonel Rt. Hon. G. F.
Lucas-Tooth, Sir Hugh Vere Penny, Frederick George Steel, Major Samuel Strang
Luce, Maj.-Gen. Sir Richard Harman Percy, Lord Eustace (Hastings) Storry-Deans, R.
Lumley, L. R. Perkins, Colonel E. K. Stott, Lieut.-Colonel W. H.
MacAndrew, Major Charles Glen Peto, G. (Somerset, Frome) Stuart, Hon. J. (Moray and Nairn)
Macdonald, Capt. P. D. (I. of W.) Power, Sir John Cecil Tasker, R. Inigo.
Macdonald, R. (Glasgow, Cathcart) Pownall, Sir Assheton Thom, Lt.-Col. J. G. (Dumbarton)
MacIntyre, Ian Preston, William Thompson, Luke (Sunderland)
McLean, Major A. Price, Major C. W. M. Thomson, Rt. Hon. Sir W. Mitchell-
Macmillan, Captain H. Raine, Sir Walter Titchfield, Major the Marquess of
Macnaghten, Hon. Sir Malcolm Ramsden, E. Turton, Sir Edmund Russborough
Macquisten, F. A. Rawson, Sir Cooper Ward, Lt.-Col. A. L.(Kingston-on-Hull)
MacRobert, Alexander M. Remnant, Sir James Warner, Brigadier-General W. W.
Maitland, Sir Arthur D. Steel- Rentoul, G. S. Warrender, Sir Victor
Makins, Brigadier-General E. Rhys, Hon. C. A. U. Watson, Rt. Hon. W. (Carlisle)
Malone, Major P. B. Richardson, Sir P. W. (Sur'y, Ch'ts'y) Watts, Dr. T.
Margesson, Captain D. Ruggles-Brise, Lieut.-Colonel E. A. Wells, S. R.
Marriott, Sir J. A. R. Russell, Alexander West (Tynemouth) White, Lieut.-Col. Sir G. Dairymple
Meyer, Sir Frank Salmon, Major I. Williams, A. M. (Cornwall, Northern)
Milne, J. S. Wardlaw- Samuel, A. M. (Surrey, Farnham) Williams, Com. C. (Devon, Torquay)
Mitchell, S. (Lanark, Lanark) Sandeman, N. Stewart Williams, Herbert G. (Reading)
Monsell, Eyres, Com. Rt. Hon. B. M. Sanders, Sir Robert A. Wilson, R. R. (Stafford, Lichfield)
Moore, Lieut.-Colonel T. C. R. (Ayr) Sanderson, Sir Frank Windsor-Clive, Lieut.-Colonel George
Moreing, Captain A. H. Sandon, Lord Wolmer, Viscount
Morrison, H. (Wilts, Salisbury) Shaw, Lt.-Col. A. D. Mcl.(Renfrew, W) Womersley, W. J.
Murchison, Sir Kenneth Sheffield, Sir Berkeley Wood, B. C. (Somerset, Bridgwater)
Nelson, Sir Frank Shepperson, E. W. Wood, E. (Chest'r, Stalyb'dge & Hyde)
Neville, Sir Reginald J. Simms, Dr. John M. (Co. Down) Wood, Sir Kingsley (Woolwich, W.)
Newton, Sir D. G. C. (Cambridge) Skelton, A. N. Woodcock, Colonel H. C.
Nicholson, Col. Rt. Hn. W. G. (Ptrsf'ld.) Slaney, Major P. Kenyon Yerburgh, Major Robert D. T.
Nield, Rt. Hon. Sir Herbert Smith, R. W. (Aberd'n & Kinc'dine, C.)
Nuttall, Ellis Smith-Carington, Neville W. TELLERS FOR THE AYES.—
Oakley, T. Somerville, A. A. (Windsor) Major Sir George Hennessy and
Ormsby-Gore, Rt. Hon. William Sprot, Sir Alexander Mr. F. C. Thomson.
NOES.
Adamson, Rt. Hon. W. (Fife, West) Hall. G. H. (Merthyr Tydvil) Robinson, W. C. (Yorks, W. R., Elland)
Adamson, W. M. (Staff., Cannock) Hardie, George D. Rose, Frank H.
Alexander, A. V. (Sheffield, Hillsbro') Hartshorn, Rt. Hon. Vernon Salter, Dr. Alfred
Ammon, Charles George Hayday, Arthur Scrymgeour, E.
Attlee, Clement Richard Hayes, John Henry Shaw, Rt. Hon. Thomas (Preston)
Baker, Walter Henderson, Right Hon. A. (Burnley) Shepherd, Arthur Lewis
Barnes, A. Henderson, T. (Glasgow) Sitch, Charles H.
Batey, Joseph Hirst, G. H. Smith, Ben (Bermondsey, Rotherhithe)
Bondfield, Margaret Hirst, W. (Bradford, South) Smith, H. B. Lees- (Keighley)
Broad, F. A. Hore-Belisha, Leslie Snell, Harry
Brown, Ernest (Leith) Hudson, J. H. Huddersfield Snowden, Rt. Hon. Philip
Brown, James (Ayr and Bute) Hutchison, Sir Robert (Montrose) Spencer, George A. (Broxtowe)
Buchanan, G. Jenkins, W. (Glamorgan, Neath) Stamford, T. W.
Cape, Thomas John, William (Rhondda, West) Stephen, Campbell
Charleton, H. C. Kennedy, T. Stewart, J. (St. Rollox)
Cluse, W. S. Kenworthy, Lt.-Com. Hon. Joseph M. Strauss, E. A.
Clynes, Rt. Hon. John R. Kirkwood, D. Sutton, J. E.
Compton, Joseph Lansbury, George Thomas, Rt. Hon. James H. (Derby)
Connolly, M. Lindley, F. W. Thorne, W. (West Ham, Plaistow)
Cove, W. G. Lowth, T. Thurtle, Ernest
Cowan, D. M. (Scottish Universities) Lunn, William Tinker, John Joseph
Crawfurd, H. E. Mackinder, W. Trevelyan, Rt. Hon C. P.
Dalton, Hugh MacLaren, Andrew Varley, Frank B.
Davies, Evan (Ebbw Vale) Maclean, Nell (Glasgow, Govan) Viant, S. P.
Day, Colonel Harry MacNeill-Weir, L. Wallhead, Richard C.
Dennison, R. Macpherson, Rt. Hon. James I. Walsh, Rt. Hon. Stephen
Duncan, C. March, S. Watson, W. M. (Dunfermline)
Dunnico, H. Mitchell, E. Rosslyn (Paisley) Wedgwood, Rt. Hon. Josiah
Edge, Sir William Montague, Frederick Wellock, Wilfred
Edwards, C. (Monmouth, Bedwellty) Morris, R. H. Welsh, J. C.
Evans, Capt. Ernest (Welsh Univer.) Morrison, R. C. (Tottenham, N.) Westwood, J.
Forrest, W. Murnin, H. Wheatley, Rt. Hon. J.
Gardner, J. P. Naylor, T. E. Williams, Dr. J. H. (Llanelly)
Gibbins, Joseph Oliver, George Harold Williams, T. (York, Don Valley)
Gillett, George M. Owen, Major G. Wilson, C. H. (Sheffield, Attercliffe)
Gosling, Harry Palin, John Henry Wilson, R. J. (Jarrow)
Graham, D. M. (Lanark, Hamilton) Paling, W. Windsor, Walter
Greenall, T. Ponsonby, Arthur Wright, W.
Greenwood, A. (Nelson and Colne) Potts, John S. Young, Robert (Lancaster, Newton)
Grenfell, D. R. (Glamorgan) Rees, Sir Beddoe
Groves, T. Richardson, R. (Houghton-le-Spring) TELLERS FOR THE NOES.—
Grundy, T. W. Riley, Ben Mr. Allen Parkinson and Mr. Whiteley.
Hall, F. (York, W. R., Normanton) Ritson, J.
Mr. MACKINDER

I beg to move, in page 2, line 26, to leave out the words "commencement of this Act," and to insert instead thereof the words "fourth day of January, nineteen hundred and twenty-nine."

Mr. R. YOUNG

I beg to second the Amendment.

Question put, "That the words proposed to be left out stand part of the Bill."

The House divided: Ayes, 227; Noes, 128.

Division No. 454.] AYES. [5.54 p.m.
Acland-Troyte, Lieut.-Colonel Galbraith, J. F. W. Mason, Lieut.-Col. Glyn K.
Alexander, E. E. (Leyton) Ganzoni, Sir John Meyer, Sir Frank
Applin, Colonel R. V. K. Gates, Percy Milne, J. S. Wardlaw-
Ashley, Lt.-Col. Rt. Hon. Wilfrid W. Gault, Lieut.-Col. Andrew Hamilton Mitchell, S. (Lanark, Lanark)
Astbury, Lieut.-Commander F. W. Gibbs, Col. Rt. Hon. George Abraham Monsell, Eyres, Com. Rt. Hon. B. M.
Atholl, Duchess of Gilmour, Lt.-Col. Rt. Hon. Sir John Moore, Lieut.-Col. T. C. R. (Ayr)
Atkinson, C. Glyn, Major R. G. C. Moreing, Captain A. H.
Balniel, Lord Gower, Sir Robert Morrison, H. (Wilts, Salisbury)
Barclay-Harvey, C. M. Grace, John Nelson, Sir Frank
Barnston, Major Sir Harry Grattan-Doyle, Sir N. Neville, Sir Reginald J.
Beamish, Rear-Admiral T. P. H. Greene, W. P. Crawford Newton, Sir D. G. C. (Cambridge)
Beckett, Sir Gervase (Leeds, N.) Grotrian, H. Brent Nicholson, Col. Rt. Hn. W. G. (Ptrst'ld.)
Benn, Sir A. S. (Plymouth, Drake) Guinness, Rt. Hon. Walter E. Nield, Rt. Hon. Sir Herbert
Bentinck, Lord Henry Cavendish Gunston, Captain D. W. Nuttall, Ellis
Berry, Sir George Hacking, Douglas H. Oakley, T.
Bethel, A. Hall, Capt. W. D'A. (Brecon & Rad.) Ormsby-Gore, Rt. Hon. William
Betterton, Henry B. Hanbury, C. Pennefather, Sir John
Blades, Sir George Rowland Hannon, Patrick Joseph Henry Penny, Frederick George
Blundell, F. N. Harland, A. Percy, Lord Eustace (Hastings)
Bourne, Captain Robert Croft Harmsworth, Hon. E. C. (Kent) Perkins, Colonel E. K.
Bowyer, Capt. G. E. W. Harrison, G. J. C. Peto, G. (Somerset, Frome)
Briggs, J. Harold Hartington, Marquess of Power, Sir John Cecil
Brocklebank, C. E. R. Harvey, G. (Lambeth, Kennington) Pownall, Sir Assheton
Brooke, Brigadier-General C. R. I. Harvey, Major S. E. (Devon, Totnes) Preston, William
Broun-Lindsay, Major H. Hawke, John Anthony Price, Major C. W. M.
Brown, Col. D. C. (N'th'l'd., Hexham) Headlam, Lieut.-Colonel C. M. Raine, Sir Walter
Brown, Brig.-Gen. H. C. (Berks, Newb'y) Henderson, Capt. R. R.(Oxf'd, Henley) Ramsden, E.
Buckingham, Sir H. Henderson, Lt.-Col. Sir V. L. (Bootle) Rawson, Sir Cooper
Bull, Rt. Hon. Sir William James Heneage, Lieut.-Col. Arthur P. Remnant, Sir James
Burman, J. B. Hills. Major John Waller Rhys, Hon. C. A. U.
Burton, Colonel H. W. Hilton, Cecil Richardson, Sir P. W. (Sur'y, Ch'ts'y)
Cadogan, Major Hon. Edward Hopkins. J. W. W. Ruggles-Brise, Lieut.-Colonel E. A.
Caine, Gordon Hall Hopkinson, Sir A. (Eng. Universities) Russell, Alexander West (Tynemouth)
Campbell, E. T. Hopkinson, A. (Lancaster, Mossley) Salmon, Major I.
Carver, Major W. H. Howard-Bury, Colonel C. K. Samuel, A. M. (Surrey, Farnham)
Cassels, J. D. Hudson, Capt. A. U. M.(Hackney, N.) Sandeman, N. Stewart
Cautley, Sir Henry S. Hume, Sir G. H. Sanders, Sir Robert A.
Cayzer, Maj. Sir Herbt. R. (Prtsmth, S.) Huntingfield, Lord Sanderson, Sir Frank
Cecil, Rt. Hon. Sir Evelyn (Aston) Hurd, Percy A. Sandon, Lord
Chamberlain, Rt. Hon. N. (Ladywood) Hurst, Gerald B. Shaw, Lt.-Col. A. D. Mcl. (Renfrew, W)
Charteris, Brigadier-General J. Iliffe, Sir Edward M. Sheffield, Sir Berkeley
Chilcott, Sir Warden Inskip, Sir Thomas Walker H. Shepperson, E. W.
Christie, J. A. Iveagh, Countess of Simms, Dr. John M. (Co. Down)
Churchman, Sir Arthur C. Jephcott, A. R. Skelton, A. N.
Clarry, Reginald George Jones, G. W. H. (Stoke Newington) Slaney, Major P. Kenyon
Cobb, Sir Cyril Kennedy, A. R. (Preston) Smith, R. W. (Aberd'n & Kinc'dine, C.).
Cockerill, Brig.-General Sir George Kindersley, Major G. M. Smith-Carington, Neville W.
Craig, Capt. Rt. Hon. C. C. (Antrim) King, Commodore Henry Douglas Somerville, A. A. (Windsor)
Craig, Sir Ernest (Chester, Crewe) Kinloch-Cooke, Sir Clement Sprot, Sir Alexander
Crooke, J. Smedley (Deritend) Knox, Sir Alfred Stanley, Lieut.-Colonel Rt. Hon. G. F.
Crookshank, Col. C. de W. (Berwick) Lamb, J. Q. Steel, Major Samuel Strang
Crookshank, Cpt. H. (Lindsey, Gainsbro) Lister, Cunliffe-, Rt. Hon. Sir Philip Storry-Deans, R.
Cunliffe, Sir Herbert Locker-Lampson, G. (Wood Green) Stott, Lieut.-Colonel W. H.
Curzon, Captain Viscount Locker- Lampson, Com. O. (Handsw'th) Stuart, Crichton-, Lord C.
Davidson, Major-General Sir J. H. Looker, Herbert William Stuart, Hon. J. (Moray and Nairn)
Davies, Maj. Geo. F. (Somerset, Yeovil) Lowe, Sir Francis William Tasker, R. Inigo.
Davies, Sir Thomas (Cirencester) Lucas-Tooth, Sir Hugh Vere Thom, Lt.-Col. J. G. (Dumbarton)
Davies, Dr. Vernon Luce, Maj.-Gen. Sir Richard Harman Thompson, Luke (Sunderland)
Dean, Arthur Wellesley Lumley, L. R. Thomson, F. C. (Aberdeen, South)
Drewe, C. MacAndrew, Major Charles Glen Thomson, Rt. Hon. Sir W. Mitchell-
Edmondson, Major A. J. Macdonald, Capt. P. D. (I. of W.) Titchfield, Major the Marquess of
Elliot, Major Walter E. Macdonald, R. (Glasgow, Cathcart) Turton, Sir Edmund Russborough
Ellis, R. G. MacIntyre, Ian Ward, Lt.-Col. A. L.(Kingston-on-Hull)
Erskine, Lord (Somerset, Weston-s-M.) McLean, Major A. Warner, Brigadier-General W. W.
Everard, W. Lindsay Macnaghten, Hon. Sir Malcolm Warrender, Sir Victor
Falle, Sir Bertram G. Macquisten, F. A. Watson, Rt. Hon. W. (Carlisle)
Fanshawe, Captain G. D. MacRobert, Alexander M. Watts, Dr. T.
Fermoy, Lord Maitland, Sir Arthur D. Steel- Wells, S. R.
Fielden, E. B. Makins, Brigadier-General E. White, Lieut.-Col. Sir G. Dairymple-
Forestier-Walker, Sir L. Malone, Major P. B. Williams, A. M. (Cornwall, Northern)
Foster, Sir Harry S. Manningham-Buller, Sir Mervyn Williams, Com. C. (Devon, Torquay)
Frece, Sir Walter de Margesson, Captain D. Williams, Herbert G. (Reading)
Fremantle. Lieut.-Colonel Francis E. Marriott, Sir J. A. R. Wilson, R. R. (Stafford, Lichfield)
Windsor-Clive, Lieut.-Colonel George Wood, E. (Chest'r, Stalyb'ge & Hyde) TELLERS FOR THE AYES.—
Wolmer, Viscount Wood, Sir Kingsley (Woolwich, W.) Major Sir George Hennessy and
Womersley, W. J. Woodcock, Colonel H. C. Major Cope.
Wood, B. C. (Somerset, Bridgwater) Yerburgh, Major Robert D. T.
NOES.
Adamson, Rt. Hon. W. (Fife, West) Hartshorn, Rt. Hon. Vernon Rose, Frank H.
Adamson, W. M. (Staff., Cannock) Hayday, Arthur Salter, Dr. Alfred
Alexander, A. V. (Sheffield, Hillsbro') Hayes, John Henry Scrymgeour, E.
Ammon, Charles George Henderson, Right Hon. A. (Burnley) Shaw, Rt. Hon. Thomas (Preston)
Attlee, Clement Richard Henderson, T. (Glasgow) Shepherd, Arthur Lewis
Baker, Walter Hirst, G. H. Simon, Rt. Hon. Sir John
Barnes, A. Hirst, W. (Bradford, South) Sitch, Charles H.
Batey, Joseph Hore-Bellsha, Leslie Smith, Ben (Bermondsey, Rotherhithe)
Bondfield, Margaret Hudson, J. H. (Huddersfield) Smith, H. B. Lees (Keighley)
Broad, F. A. Hutchison, Sir Robert (Montrose) Snell, Harry
Brown, Ernest (Leith) Jenkins, W. (Glamorgan, Neath) Snowden, Rt. Hon. Philip
Brown, James (Ayr and Bute) John, William (Rhondda, West) Spencer, G. A. (Broxtowe)
Buchanan, G. Kennedy, T. Stamford, T. W.
Cape, Thomas Kenworthy, Lt.-Com. Hon. Joseph M. Stephen, Campbell
Charleton, H. C. Kirkwood, D. Stewart, J. (St. Rollox)
Cluse, W. S. Lansbury, George Strauss, E. A.
Clynes, Right Hon. John R. Lawson, John James Sutton, J. E.
Compton, Joseph Lindley, F. W. Thomas, Rt. Hon. James H. (Derby)
Connolly, M. Livingstone, A. M. Thorne, W. (West Ham, Plaistow)
Cove, W. G. Lowth, T. Thurtle, Ernest
Cowan, D. M. (Scottish Universities) Lunn, William Tinker, John Joseph
Crawfurd, H. E. Mackinder, W. Trevelyan, Rt. Hon. C. P.
Dalton, Hugh MacLaren, Andrew Varley, Frank B.
Davies, Evan (Ebbw Vale) Maclean, Neil (Glasgow, Govan) Viant, S. P.
Day, Colonel Harry MacNeill-Weir, L. Wallhead, Richard C.
Dennison, R. Macpherson, Rt. Hon. James I. Walsh, Rt. Hon. Stephen
Duncan, C. March, S. Watson, W. M. (Dunfermline)
Dunnico, H. Mitchell, E. Rosslyn (Paisley) Wedgwood, Rt. Hon. Josiah
Edge, Sir William Montague, Frederick Wellock, Wilfred
Evans Capt. Ernest (Welsh Univer.) Morris, R. H. Welsh. J. C.
Forrest, W. Morrison, R. C. (Tottenham, N.) Westwood, J
Gardner, J. P. Murnin, H. Wheatley, Rt. Hon. J.
Gibbins, Joseph Naylor, T. E. Whiteley, W.
Gillett, George M. Oliver, George Harold Williams, Dr. J. H. (Llanelly)
Gosling, Harry Owen, Major G. Williams, T. (York, Don Valley)
Graham, D. M. (Lanark, Hamilton) Palin, John Henry Wilson, C. H. (Sheffield, Attercliffe)
Greenall, T. Paling, W. Wilson, R. J. (Jarrow)
Greenwood, A. (Nelson and Colne) Ponsonby, Arthur Windsor, Walter
Grenfell, D. R. (Glamorgan) Potts, John S. Wright, W.
Groves, T. Rees, Sir Beddoe Young, Robert (Lancaster, Newton)
Grundy, T. W. Richardson, R. (Houghton-le-Spring)
Hall, F. (York, W. R., Normanton) Riley, Ben TELLERS FOR THE NOES.—
Hall, G. H. (Merthyr Tydvil) Ritson, J. Mr. Allen Parkinson and Mr. Charles
Hardie, George D. Robinson, W. C. (Yorks, W. R., Elland) Edwards.
Sir A. STEEL-MAITLAND

I beg to move, in page 2, line 30, after the word "that," to insert the words:

  1. "(a) young men and young women who are in receipt of an increase of benefit in respect of dependants; and
  2. (b)."
This Amendment has to be taken together with the consequential Amendment—in page 2, line 33, after the word "women," to insert the words" (whether in receipt of such an increase or not)."

The effect of the Amendment is to allow adult rates of benefit in respect of those young men or young women who have a dependant. A proposal was made in Committee that young men or young women should be allowed the adult rate of benefit if they were married. Any proposal of that kind seems to me to be too limited in one respect and too wide in another. So far as these rates are approved at all there is no real justification for extending them where a young man out of work is married and has a wife who is in work. On the other hand, they are too narrow in one respect, because probably the case of real hardship, as I have indicated earlier this afternoon, is where there may be a young man who has a mother dependent on him. If I may repeat in very few words what I said earlier this afternoon, I was trying to think what would be the case of a young man or a young woman under this Bill where it could be said that a great deal of hardship might result, and it seemed to me that a case of real hardship was where there was a young man who had dependants, and particularly, shall we say, an aged mother. In the case of a young man with dependants, probably it is not so much a case of the cost of the dependant as that his own personal expenses in these circumstances tend to go up, because he might naturally be expected to have a house of his own. For these reasons I have put down this Amendment, so that in a case where a man has a dependant in respect of whom he draws benefit, he should be allowed himself to receive benefit on his own account at the adult rate.

Amendment agreed to.

Further Amendment made:

In page 2, line 33, after the word "women," insert the words "(whether in receipt of such an increase or not)."—[Sir A. Steel-Maitland.]

Mr. GREENWOOD

I beg to move, in page 3, line 28, leave out paragraph (c).

This question was discussed in the Committee stage, and we now move the omission of paragraph (c) not with the idea of bringing out any real differences of opinion but in order to get a little further explanation of the meaning of the Clause. The purpose of paragraph (c) is to alter the definition of "a dependent child." The Act of 1922, when this Amendment has been incorporated, will read as follows: The expression 'a dependent child' means a child under the age of 14 years who is maintained wholly or mainly by the person entitled to benefit. At present it reads: wholly or mainly at the cost of the person entitled to benefit. I understand that the purpose in making this proposed alteration in the Act of 1922 is to guard against those cases where a father claims dependants' benefit in respect of a child towards whose maintenance he makes no contribution whatever. If the Clause is intended only to meet that sort of case we should support it, because there is no case for allowing benefit in respect of "a dependent child" where the parent has really never fulfilled his own responsibilities. A case was raised in the previous discussion regarding children who might be in institutions, Poor Law institutions or other institutions, where the parent might be making what those who are responsible for those institutions thought a reasonable contribution, but which did not, as a matter of fact, mean "wholly or mainly maintaining the child." He might be maintaining it to the limits of his capacity as determined by the authorities of the institution who had care of the child. If that be so, then I should hope that the Clause would cover such a case. There might be a hard case where for one reason or another a crippled child is in an institution and the father is not maintaining it except partially, not "wholly or mainly." If those cases are covered we have no exception to take to the Clause, but I am a little doubtful whether there may not be real cases of hardship arising where parents who are contributing towards the maintenance of a child in an institution up to the limit of their ability to pay might be deprived of dependant's benefit, although they would in fact, really me maintaining the child.

Mr. DUNCAN

I beg to second the Amendment.

Sir A. STEEL-MAITLAND

I am advised that that case is actually covered. The object of the Amendment is merely to confine the right to the 2s. for the child to cases where the claimant for benefit is, in fact, spending the money on the child. There is no need to take up the time of the House in explaining how this wrong phraseology has crept in. It is merely a case of wrong phraseology. I am advised that supposing a child is in a Poor Law institution and that the father contributes toward its maintenance a sum of 2s. or in excess of 2s., the case is covered and he will be able to claim in respect of it. This is only intended to meet cases where there is no payment towards a child's maintenance or no payment of as much as 2s. towards it.

Mr. HAYDAY

I should like to pursue the point a little further, because a case has been put to me by a constituent as to the possible application of this provision in an adverse manner. It was pointed out to me that owing to housing difficulties and the father being unemployed and there being no mother, a man might go in search of work and might not be able to provide a full home for the children, and one or more of the children under 14 years of age might be taken care of by someone. The Act at present says "at the cost of." Such a case would be covered so long as the man himself provides for their cost. It is now proposed to insert the words "main- tained by." Does it mean, in that case, that the child must actually be in residence with the parent? The right hon. Gentleman will understand the anxiety of people outside this House on this subject, where there is a housing difficulty, a man goes to seek work, there is no mother and he gets someone to look after the children while he is searching for work. The children are being maintained at his cost, because he sends on the money, but under the Amendment as a result of the insertion of the words "maintained by," must the children be actually in residence with him?

Mr. BETTERTON

I do not think the hon. Member need be under any misapprehension in regard to that. If a man goes away in search of work and he is paying for his child who is in care of someone else, he is clearly maintaining it, and, therefore, the difficulty which the hon. Member has in mind is one about which he need have no fear. If he is actually paying for the child he will be covered.

Sir A. STEEL-MAITLAND

May I correct a misapprehension which may occur in the amount which should be paid? I find that it is 5s. he will have to pay in order to be regarded as maintaining.

Mr. CONNOLLY

I should like to put one question. Does the right hon. Gentleman's answer mean that if a person has a child in an institution for which he is paying 1s. 6d. per week, on the present assessment, he will be deprived of the 2s. in respect of the child; or does it mean the difference between 1s. 6d. and 2s.?

Sir A. STEEL-MAITLAND

I would say this with reserve—no lawyer can speak entirely without his book—that in that case he would not be entitled to the 2s.

Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.