§ Mr. LAWSONI beg to move, in page 2, line 15, to leave out the word "a," and to insert instead thereof the words:
at a rate of remuneration not less than nine shillings per week, some.The House will remember that, on the Committee stage, the right hon. Member for Shettleston (Mr. Wheatley) raised the point that for this purpose a female person must always be the same person, and that was not the intention of the Sub-section. I need scarcely say that cases arise where a non-resident housekeeper would not be the same person throughout.
§ Major ELLIOTWhile it may be that these words are an improvement, still the Third Reading of the Bill is to be taken this evening, when this House will have no opportunity of seeing this tremendous Measure printed in a single piece. The ordinary rights given to any local authority, of seeing before it as a connected whole the proposals in print which it is asked to pass, are to be denied to the House of Commons. The fact remains that this and other drafting Amendments are being moved in on Report, and we shall be totally prohibited from seeing the Bill in print that we are asked to pass on Third Reading. The Government must take the responsibility for that, but we must take the responsibility also to some extent. They will force it by the use of their majority. It is one of the things that makes us say, "Thank heavens, there is a House of Lords!"
§ Mr. WARDLAW-MILNEWill the hon. Gentleman explain how this will work with the subsequent Amendments, because as it stands it does not appear to make sense?
§ Mr. LAWSONThere are further drafting Amendments.
§ Amendment agreed to.
§ Mr. LAWSONI beg to move, in page 2, line 17, to leave out from the word "children" to the word "the," in line 20.
§ This is a consequential Amendment.
§ Major ELLIOTAt least we are entitled to have the Clause read out as it is going to appear when amended. Let us have it verbally, if we are denied having it in print or even in manuscript.
§ Mr. LAWSONThe Sub-section, as it will appear with the consequential Amendments, will read:
(b) Where a person entitled to benefit (not being a person entitled to an increase of the weekly rate otherwise than in respect of dependent children) has previously to becoming unemployed had in his employment and thereafter continues to employ, at a rate of remuneration not less than nine shillings per week, some female person who is not residing with him to assist in the care of his dependent children, the weekly rate shall be increased by nine shillings.
§ Amendment agreed to.
§ Further Amendments made:
§ In page 2, line 43, leave out the word "a," and insert instead thereof the words "an insured."
§ In page 2, line 46, leave out from the word "the" to the word "when," in page 3, line 3, and insert instead thereof the words "insured person."—[Mr. Lawson.]
§ Mr. LAWSONI beg to move, in page 3, line 6, after the word "person," to insert the words:
and when in employment (except in a case where the dependency did not arise until after the date on which the insured person became unemployed) contributed more than one-half of the actual cost of the maintenance of that other person.
§ Major ELLIOTThis is Sub-section (f), and we might have it read out to us, at least, as it is proposed that the House of Commons should here and now finally part with it.
§ Mr. LAWSONThe Sub-section, as amended, will read:
(f) For the purpose of the enactments aforesaid, an insured person shall not be deemed to be wholly or mainly maintaining any other person unless the insured person, when unemployed, contributes towards the maintenance of that other person an amount not less than the amount of the increase of benefit received in respect of that other person and when in employment (except in a case where the dependency did not arise until after the date on which the insured person became unemployed) contributed more than one-half of the actual cost of the maintenance of that other person.
§ Amendment agreed to.
§ Mr. LAWSONI beg to move, in page 3, line 6, at the end, to insert the words
Provided that the requirement in paragraph (b) of this Sub-section as to the employment of the female person previously to the insured person becoming unemployed shall not apply in any case where the necessity for employing such a female person did 1062 not arise until after the date on which the insured person became unemployed.
Earl WINTERTONBefore we leave these controversial matters, I should like to reinforce my hon. Friend's protest, on behalf of the Opposition, against having to consider the Third Reading of a Bill in which, in one Clause alone, something like 12 fresh lines have been added when the House has never had the opportunity of seeing the Bill in print.
§ Mr. LAWSONIt has been done before.
Earl WINTERTONI do not think that there have been many changes on Report unless there has been an interval between the Report stage and Third Reading during which the Bill had been in print. Whether it has been done before or not, it is no less undesirable to have to consider a Bill of this magnitude on Third Reading in which there have been so many alterations made on the Report stage without it having been in print. If it is to be the custom on every Bill which the Government brings forward, the Opposition will have to take very vigorous steps to prevent Third Readings coming on on the same night as the Report stage. [Interruption]. It is all very well for the hon. Member to treat this in a derisory manner. He does not at any time treat the debate in a serious manner. We protest very vigorously against the action of the Government.
§ Mr. LAWSONThe points raised in these Amendments were extremely small and were only meant to give clearer expression to what was intended in the Bill. These Amendments were accepted without any idea of extending the Bill. This particular point, for instance, was raised by an hon. Member in connection with the case of the non-resident housekeeper. The case of a man who is unemployed and whose wife died during the period of unemployment was cited. The man had to employ someone to look after his children, namely, a non-resident housekeeper, and it was never the intention, either of the House or of the Bill, to penalise the man in those circumstances. All that was necessary to meet the particular point was to amend the Bill to give clearer expression to what was obviously the intention, and, when this promise was given, not a single voice was raised at the time against it in Committee.
§ Major ELLIOTI am afraid the Parliamentary Secretary has not quite grasped the contention which we were making. It is not that we are in any way distrustful of his bona fides, and it would not be possible at the moment to say whether we agree or disagree with the proposal. We were protesting against the handling of business by the Government. Mr. Speaker is regarded as the guardian of the liberties of the House. I wish it were possible for me to enter, in some more emphatic form which would draw it more immediately before your notice, Sir, the fact that the handling of business by the Government has resulted in a large and important Measure being presented to this House lacking in many of the Clauses which the Government itself considers most vital to its success, and that this Measure is never to be reprinted for the benefit of the House over which you, Sir, preside. The other House will see it and have the benefit of a copy
§ of the Bill. It will be the first Chamber of Parliament which will have an opportunity of considering the Bill as a whole. I wonder how the Government likes that position. A Measure to which they attach so much importance will be presented for the first time in whole to the House of Lords. All I can say is that we do not wish to delay business, but we must make the most emphatic protest, and we intend to divide against this Amendment by way of making the only possible protest left to us against the position in which the Government has placed the House in asking it to part, not merely now but in two hours' time on Third Reading, with a Measure which it has never had the opportunity of considering.
§ Question put, "That those words be there inserted in the Bill."
§ The House divided: Ayes, 272; Noes, 149.
1067| Division No. 102.] | AYES. | [7.6 p.m. |
| Adamson, w. M. (Staff., Cannock) | Dallas, George | Henderson, Thomas (Glasgow) |
| Addison, Rt. Hon. Dr. Christopher | Dalton, Hugh | Henderson, W. W. (Middx., Enfield) |
| Altchison, Rt. Hon. Cralgle M. | Davies, Rhys John (Westhoughton) | Herriotts, J. |
| Alpass, J. H. | Day, Harry | Hirst, G. H. (York W. R. Wentworth) |
| Ammon, Charles George | Devlin, Joseph | Hoffman, P. C. |
| Angell, Norman | Dickson, T. | Hollins, A. |
| Arnott, John | Dudgeon, Major C. R. | Hopkin, Daniel |
| Aske, Sir Robert | Dukes, C. | Horrabin, J. F. |
| Attlee, Clement Richard | Duncan, Charles | Hudson, James H. (Huddersfield) |
| Baker, John (Wolverhampton, Bliston) | Ede, James Chuter | Hunter, Dr. Joseph |
| Baldwin, Oliver (Dudley) | Edmunds, J. E. | Isaacs, George |
| Barnes, Alfred John | Edwards, E. (Morpeth) | Jenkins, W. (Glamorgan, Neath) |
| Bellamy, Albert | Egan, W. H. | John, William (Rhondda, West) |
| Benn, Rt. Hon. Wedgwood | Elmley, Viscount | Johnston, Thomas |
| Bennett, Captain E.N.(Cardiff, Central) | Evans, Capt. Ernest (Welsh Univer.) | Jones, Rt. Hon. Leif (Camborne) |
| Bennett, William (Battersea, South) | Foot, Isaac, | Jowett, Rt. Hon. F. W. |
| Benson, G. | Gardner, B. W. (West Ham, Upton) | Kedward, R. M. (Kent, Ashford) |
| Bentham, Dr. Ethel | Gardner, J. P. (Hammersmith, N.) | Kelly, W. T. |
| Bevan, Aneurin (Ebbw Vale) | George, Major G. Lloyd (Pembroke) | Kennedy, Thomas |
| Birkett, W. Norman | George, Megan Lloyd (Anglesea) | Kinley, J. |
| Bondfield, Rt. Hon. Margaret | Gibbins, Joseph | Knight, Holford |
| Bowen, J. W. | Gill, T. H. | Lathan, G. |
| Bowerman, Rt. Hon. Charles W. | Glassey, A. E. | Law, Albert (Bolton) |
| Broad, Francis Alfred | Gosling, Harry | Law, A. (Rossendale) |
| Brockway, A. Fenner | Gossling, A. G. | Lawrence, Susan |
| Bromfield, William | Gould, F. | Lawrie, Hugh Hartley (Stalybridge) |
| Bromley, J. | Graham, Rt. Hon.Wm. (Edin.,Cent.) | Lawson, John James |
| Brothers, M. | Granville, E. | Lawther, W. (Barnard Castle) |
| Brown, C. W. E. (Notts. Mansfield) | Gray, Milner | Leach, W. |
| Brown, Ernest (Leith) | Greenwood, Rt. Hon. A. (Colne) | Lee, Jennie (Lanark, Northern) |
| Brown, W. J. (Wolverhampton, West) | Grenfell, D. R. (Glamorgan) | Lees, J. |
| Burgess, F. G. | Griffith, F. Kingsley (Middlesbro' W.) | Lewis, T. (Southampton) |
| Burgin, Dr. E. L. | Griffiths, T. (Monmouth, pontypool) | Lloyd, C. Ellis |
| Buxton, C R. (Yorks. W. R. Elland) | Groves, Thomas E. | Longden, F. |
| Buxton, Rt. Hon. Noel (Norfolk, N.) | Grundy, Thomas W. | Lovat-Fraser, J. A. |
| Caine, Derwent Hall- | Hall, F. (York, W. R., Normanton) | Lowth, Thomas |
| Cameron, A. G. | Hall, G. H. (Merthyr Tydvil) | Lunn, William |
| Cape, Thomas | Hall, Capt. W. P. (Portsmouth, C.) | Macdonald, Gordon (Ince) |
| Carter, W. (St. Pancras, S.W.) | Hamilton, Mary Agnes (Blackburn) | MacDonald, Rt. Hon. J. R. (Seaham) |
| Charleton, H. C. | Hamilton, Sir R. (Orkney & Zetland) | McEntee, V. L. |
| Chater, Daniel | Hardie, George D. | Mackinder, W. |
| Church, Major A. G. | Harris, Percy A. | McKinlay, A. |
| Clarke, J. S. | Hartshorn, Rt. Hon. Vernon | MacLaren, Andrew |
| Clynes, Rt. Hon. John R. | Hastings, Dr. Somerville | Maclean, Sir Donald (Cornwall, N.) |
| Cocks, Frederick Seymour | Haycock, A. W. | McShane, John James |
| Compton, Joseph | Hayes, John Henry | Malone, C. L'Estrange (N'thampton) |
| Cove, William G. | Henderson, Right Hon. A. (Burnley) | Mansfield, W. |
| Daggar, George | Henderson, Arthur, Junr. (Cardiff, S.) | March, S. |
| Marcus, M. | Raynes, W. R. | Stephen, Campbell |
| Markham, S. F. | Richards, R. | Stewart, J. (St. Rollox) |
| Marley, J. | Richardson, R. (Houghton-le-Spring) | Strachey, E. J. St. Loe |
| Matters, L. W. | Riley, Ben (Dewsbury) | Strauss, G. R. |
| Maxton, James | Riley, F. F. (Stockton-on-Tees) | Sullivan, J. |
| Melville, Sir James | Ritson, J. | Sutton, J. E. |
| Messer, Fred | Roberts, Rt. Hon. F. O. (W. Bromwich) | Taylor, R. A. (Lincoln) |
| Middleton, G. | Romeril, H. G. | Taylor, W. B. (Norfolk, S.W.) |
| Millar, J. D. | Rosbotham, D. S. T. | Thomas, Rt. Hon. J. H. (Derby) |
| Mills, J. E. | Rothschild, J. de | Thorne, W. (West Ham, Plaistow) |
| Montague, Frederick | Rowson, Guy | Thurtle, Ernest |
| Morgan, Dr. H. B. | Russell, Richard John (Eddisbury) | Tillett, Ben |
| Morley, Ralph | Salter, Dr. Alfred | Tinker, John Joseph |
| Morris-Jones, Dr. J. H. (Denbigh) | Samuel, Rt. Hon. Sir H. (Darwen) | Toole, Joseph |
| Morrison, Herbert (Hackney, South) | Samuel, H. W. (Swansea, West) | Tout, W. J. |
| Morrison, Robert C. (Tottenham, N.) | Sanders, W. S. | Townend, A. E. |
| Mort, D. L. | Sawyer, G. F. | Trevelyan, Rt. Hon. Sir Charles |
| Moses, J. J. H. | Scrymgeour, E. | Turner, B. |
| Mosley, Lady C. (Stoke-on-Trent) | Scurr, John | Vaughan, D. J. |
| Mosley, Sir Oswald (Smethwick) | Sexton, James | Viant, S. P. |
| Muggeridge, H. T. | Shaw, Rt. Hon. Thomas (Preston) | Walker, J. |
| Murnin, Hugh | Shepherd, Arthur Lewis | Wallace, H. W. |
| Naylor, T. E. | Sherwood, G. H. | Wellhead, Richard C. |
| Newman, Sir R. H. S. D. L. (Exeter) | Shield, George William | Watkins, F. C. |
| Noel Baker, P. J. | Shiels, Dr. Drummond | Watson, W. M. (Dunfermline) |
| Oldfield, J. R. | Shillaker, J. F. | Wellock, Wilfred |
| Oliver, George Harold (Ilkeston) | Shinwell, E. | Welsh, James C. (Coatbridge) |
| Oliver, P. M. (Man., Blackley) | Short, Alfred (Wednesbury) | West, F. R. |
| Owen, Major G. (Carnarvon) | Simmons, C. J. | Westwood, Joseph |
| Palin, John Henry | Sinclair, Sir A. (Caithness) | Whiteley, Wilfrid (Birm., Ladywood) |
| Paling, Wilfrid | Sinkinson, George | Williams Dr. J. H. (Llanelly) |
| Palmer, E. T. | Sitch, Charles H. | Williams, T. (York, Don Valley) |
| Parkinson, John Allen (Wigan) | Smith, Alfred (Sunderland) | Wilson, C. H. (Sheffield, Attercliffe) |
| Perry, S. F. | Smith, Ben (Bermondsey, Rotherhithe) | Wilson, J. (Oldham) |
| Pethick-Lawrence, F. W. | Smith, Frank (Nuneaton) | Wilson, R. J. (Jarrow) |
| Phillips, Dr. Marion | Smith, H. B. Lees (Keighley) | Winterton, G. E.(Leicester,Loughb'gh) |
| Picton-Turbervill, Edith | Smith, Rennie (Penistone) | Wise, E. F. |
| Pole, Major D. G. | Smith, Tom (Pontefract) | Wood, Major McKenzie (Banff) |
| Ponsonby, Arthur | Smith, W. R. (Norwich) | Wright, W. (Rutherglen) |
| Potts, John S. | Snowden, Rt. Hon. Philip | Young, R. S. (Islington, North) |
| Price, M. P. | Snowden, Thomas (Accrington) | |
| Pybus, Percy John | Sorensen, R. | TELLERS FOR THE AYES.— |
| Ramsay, T. B. Wilson | Spero, Dr. G. E. | Mr. Charles Edwards and Mr. Whiteley. |
| Rathbone, Eleanor | Stamford, Thomas W. | |
| NOES. | ||
| Albery, Irving James | Conway, Sir W. Martin | Hennessy, Major Sir G. R. J. |
| Alexander, Sir Wm. (Glasgow, Cent'l) | Cranbourne, Viscount | Hoare, Lt.-Col. Rt. Hon. Sir S. J. G. |
| Allen, Sir J. Sandeman (Liverp'l., W.) | Crichton-stuart, Lord C. | Hudson, Capt. A. U. M. (Hackney, N.) |
| Amery, Rt. Hon. Leopold C. M. S. | Croft, Brigadier-General Sir H. | Hurd, Percy A. |
| Astor, Maj. Hon. John J.(Kent,Dover) | Crookshank, Capt. H. C. | Hurst, Sir Gerald B. |
| Astor, viscountess | Culverwell, C. T. (Bristol, West) | Iveagh, Countess of |
| Atholl, Duchess of | Cunliffe-Lister, Rt. Hon. Sir Philip | Kindersley, Major G. M. |
| Atkinson, C. | Dalkeith, Earl of | King, Commodore Rt. Hon. Henry D. |
| Baldwin, Rt. Hon. Stanley (Bewdley) | Dairymple-White, Lt.-Col. Sir Godfrey | Knox, Sir Alfred |
| Balfour, George (Hampstead) | Davies, Dr. Vernon | Leigh, Sir John (Clapham) |
| Balfour, Captain H. H. (I. of Thanet) | Davies, Maj. Geo. F. (Somerset, Yeovil) | Leighton, Major B. E. P. |
| Beamish, Rear-Admiral T. P. H. | Davison, Sir W. H. (Kensington, S.) | Lewis, Oswald (Colchester) |
| Beaumont, M. W. | Duckworth, G. A. V. | Llewellin, Maior J. J. |
| Berry, Sir George | Dugdale, Capt. T. L. | Locker-Lampson, Rt. Hon. Godfrey |
| Bird, Ernest Roy | Eden, Captain Anthony | Long, Major Eric |
| Boothby, R. J. G. | Edmondson, Major A. J. | Lymington, Viscount |
| Bourne, Captain Robert Croft | Elliot, Major Walter E. | Macquisten, F. A. |
| Bowater, Col. Sir T. Vansittart | Falle, Sir Bertram G. | Maitland, A. (Kent, Faversham) |
| Bowyer, Captain Sir George E. W. | Fielden, E. B. | Makins, Brigadler-General E. |
| Boyce, H. L. | Fison, F. G. Clavering | Marjoribanks, E. C. |
| Bracken, B. | Forestler-Walker, Sir L. | Mitchell-Thomson, Rt. Hon. Sir W. |
| Briscoe, Richard George | Galbraith, J. F. W. | Monsell, Eyres, Com. Rt. Hon. Sir B. |
| Brown, Col. D. C. (N'th'I'd., Hexham) | Ganzoni, Sir John | Morrison, W. S. (Glos., Cirencester) |
| Buckingham, Sir H. | Gault, Lieut.-Col. Andrew Hamilton | Morrison-Bell, Sir Arthur Clive |
| Burton, Colonel H. W. | Gower, Sir Robert | Muirhead, A. J. |
| Butler, R. A. | Grace, John | Newton, Sir D. G. C. (Cambridge) |
| Butt, Sir Alfred | Graham, Fergus (Cumberland, N.) | Oman, Sir Charles William C. |
| Carver, Major W. H. | Grattan-Doyle, Sir N. | O'Neill, Sir H. |
| Cautley, Sir Henry S. | Greaves-Lord, Sir Walter | Ormsby-Gore, Rt. Hon. William |
| Cayzer, Sir C. (Chester, City) | Greene, W. P. Crawford | Peake, Capt. Osbert |
| Cayzer, Maj. Sir Herbt. R. (Prtsmth, S.) | Grenfell, Edward C. (City of London) | Penny, Sir George |
| Cazalet, Captain Victor A. | Gunston, Captain D. W. | Percy, Lord Eustace (Hastings) |
| Chamberlain, Rt. Hn. Sir J.A. (Birm., W.) | Hacking, Rt. Hon. Douglas H. | Peto, Sir Basil E. (Devon, Barnstaple) |
| Christie, J. A. | Hamilton, Sir George (Ilford) | Power, Sir John Cecil |
| Cockerill, Brig.-General Sir George | Hannon, Patrick Joseph Henry | Pownall, Sir Assheton |
| Colfox, Major William Philip | Hartington, Marquess of | Purbrick, R. |
| Colville, Major D. J. | Harvey, Major S. E. (Devon, Totnes) | Ramsbotham, H. |
| Reid, David D. (County Down) | Smith-Carington, Neville W. | Ward, Lieut.-Col. Sir A. Lambert |
| Remer, John R. | Smithers, Waldron | Wardlaw-Milne, J. S. |
| Rodd, Rt. Hon. Sir James Rennell | Somerset, Thomas | Warrender, Sir Victor |
| Ruggles-Brise, Lieut.-Colonel E. A. | Somerville, A. A. (Windsor) | Wayland, Sir William A. |
| Russell, Alexander West (Tynemouth) | Somerville, D. G. (Willesden, East) | Wells, Sydney R. |
| Salmon, Major I. | Southby, Commander A. R. J. | Williams, Com. C. (Devon, Torquay) |
| Samuel, A. M. (Surrey, Farnham) | Stanley, Maj. Hon. O. (W'morland) | Windsor-Clive, Lieut.-Colonel George |
| Samuel, Samuel (W'dsworth, Putney) | Steel-Maitland, Rt. Hon. Sir Arthur | Winterton, Rt. Hon. Earl |
| Sandeman, Sir N. Stewart | Stuart, J. C. (Moray and Nairn) | Wood, Rt. Hon. Sir Kingsley |
| Sassoon, Rt. Hon. Sir Philip A. G. D. | Sueter, Rear-Admiral M. F. | Young, Rt. Hon. Sir Hilton |
| Shepperson, Sir Ernest Whittome | Titchfield, Major the Marquess of | |
| Skelton, A. N. | Tryon, Rt. Hon. George Clement | TELLERS FOR THE NOES.— |
| Smith, Louis W. (Sheffield, Hallam) | Turton, Robert Hugh | Captain Margesson and Captain Wallace. |
| Smith, R. W.(Aberd'n & Kinc'dine, C.) | Vaughan-Morgan, Sir Kenyon |