HC Deb 17 April 1931 vol 251 cc545-8
Mr. BRACKEN

I beg to move, in page 8, line 2, to leave out from the word "that," to the end of line 7, and to insert instead thereof the words: out of the total amount received in such fees annually by the council a sum of not less than 50 per cent. must be devoted in each year by the council for the purpose of providing scholarships and maintenance grants for the assistance of students of inadequate means. I think the whole House will agree with the principle of this Amendment. It is a proposal that half the fees of registration should be spent on scholarships and grants to enable poor boys or girls to go to the universities or schools.

Mr. WINTERTON

On a point of Order. I am not quarrelling with the spirit of this Amendment because we, the critics of the Bill, made this suggestion ourselves, but I wish to ask you, Mr. Deputy-Speaker, whether, in the consideration of these Amendments we have now passed from Clause 8 to Clause 15 because on Clause 11 there are some Amendments which are of drafting character and which I submit ought obviously to be considered.

Mr. DEPUTY-SPEAKER

All the Amendments on the Order Paper to the previous Clauses which were to be selected have been called, and the Amendment which has now been moved comes in its proper place at this stage.

Mr. WINTERTON

With great respect may I point out that Mr. Speaker at an earlier stage indicated that Amendments of a purely drafting character, to correct obvious omissions made in the Committee stage, should be accepted and that, so far, every such Amendment has been accepted by the promoters.

Mr. DEPUTY-SPEAKER

I cannot allow the matter to be debated. The last Amendment which I called was on Clause 8. The next Amendment on the Paper is to Clause 11, page 6, line 8, but that Amendment is not selected and has not been called. The first Amendment on the Order Paper after that which I select is that in the name of the hon. and gallant Member for Ayr Burghs to Clause 15, page 8, line 16, after the first "the" to insert "Education." The hon. Member misunderstands. Only those Amendments selected are called and he is not entitled to question the discretion of the Chair. The Amendment now before us is to leave out the words from "that" down to the end of line 7 and to insert the words which I have already read.

Sir AUSTEN CHAMBERLAIN

On a point of Order. May I ask whether this Amendment is in order? The Amendment proposes to leave out the proviso in Sub-section (1) of Clause 15 and the effect of the proviso is to limit the fees and charges to such amount as is necessary to cover the expenses of the Council. The Amendment also proposes to substitute words to the effect that half the sum raised in this manner is to be devoted to scholarships. In other words, the sum to be raised must be at least double the amount necessary to cover the expenses of the Council. Is it in order at this stage of the Bill to increase the charge to be made under this Clause, because that is the effect of the Amendment?

Mr. DEPUTY-SPEAKER

This is not a capital charge on the Treasury. I may also say that before Mr. Speaker left the Chair I consulted him about this Amendment and he concurred in the view that the Amendment was entirely in order.

Amendment agreed to.

Further Amendments made: In page 8, line 16, after the first word "the," insert the word "Education."

In page 8, line 18, after the first word "the" insert the word "Education."—[Lieut.-Colonel Moore.]

In page 8, line 24, after the word "persons," insert the words "or organisations."—[Mr. McShane.]

Lieut.-Colonel MOORE

I beg to move, in page 8, line 32, after the second word "the," to insert the word "Privy."

This word is inserted in order to make it quite clear that the reference is to the Privy Council, and not to the Council constituted under the Bill.

Sir R. GOWER

I beg to second the Amendment.

Amendment agreed to.

Further Amendment made: In page 8, line 38, after the second word "the," insert the word "Privy."—[Lieut.-Colonel Moore.]