HC Deb 21 December 1927 vol 212 cc534-5

Lords Amendment considered accordingly.

Lords Amendment: In page 6, line 3, at the end, insert new Sub-section: (4) For the purposes of the powers of the Minister under the provisions of this Section, the Minister may at all reasonable times inspect any nursing home to which this Section applies, and may refuse exemption or withdraw an exemption on the ground that as regards the home the provisions of paragraphs (a), (b) or (e) of the proviso to Sub-section (3) of Section 1 of this Act are not complied with.

The MINISTER of HEALTH (Mr. Chamberlain)

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

I am sorry that this Amendment is in manuscript form, but that is owing to the pressure which always occurs at the end of a Session. This is a manuscript Amendment moved in another place, and I understand that my Noble Friend the Lord Privy Seal explained that he had had no opportunity of consulting me and that his assent to it must be considered to be subject to my subsequent assent. The Clause to which this Amendment relates was inserted in the Bill on the Report stage, and is a Clause under which certain institutions known as Christian Science houses were excluded from the operation of the Bill. I ask the House to disagree with the Amendment because it places upon the Ministry of Health the responsibility for the inspection of these houses. These houses are not nursing homes as we understand the term, and I do not desire that the Ministry of Health should take any responsibility for them. This Amendment would put that responsibility upon the Ministry, and I feel that to accept it would be to stultify the whole constitution of the Clause which was admitted to the Bill on Report.

Ordered, That a Committee be appointed to draw up Reasons to be assigned to the Lords for disagreeing to their Amendment to the Bill.

Committee nominated of Mr. Chamberlain, Sir Kingsley Wood, Mr. Ernest Brown, Mr. R. Young and Dr. Vernon Davies.

Three to be the quorum.

To withdraw immediately.—[Mr. Chamberlain.]

Reason for disagreeing to Lords Amendment reported and agreed to.

To be communicated to the Lords.—[Mr. Chamberlain.]