HC Deb 20 March 1931 vol 249 cc2366-8

The following Amendment stood upon the Order Paper:

In page 9, line 12, at the end, to insert the words: (2) The following paragraph shall be added after paragraph fifteen of the Second Schedule to the principal Act:— 15. A. It shall not be lawful to include in the expenses of and incidental to the arbitration and award, or to charge against any of the parties, any sum payable in respect of remuneration or expenses to any person appointed by the arbiter to act as clerk or otherwise to assist him in the arbitration unless such appointment was made after submission of the claim and answers to the arbiter and with either the consent of the parties to the arbitration or the sanction of the sheriff.—[Mr. Adamson.]

Mr. W. ADAMSON

This Amendment is designed to meet an undertakirg that was given in Committee. We propose to leave out from the First Schedule the words "wells, or reservoirs" and to in- sert instead thereof the words "or wells." It is difficult to believe that any agricultural tenant would make on his holding anything which could be properly described as a reservoir. The probability would be that he would have merely storage tanks.

Mr. MACPHERSON

May I ask which Amendment the Secretary of State is moving? He seems to be dealing with his Amendment to the First Schedule, Part II, to leave out the words "wells or reservoirs," and to insert instead the words "or wells."

Mr. JOHNSTON

Owing to the rapid way in which these Amendments have been considered, my right hon. Friend has made a mistake.

Mr. R. W. SMITH

On a point of Order. The Under-Secretary of State says that a mistake has been made owing to the rapid way in which things are being disposed of.

HON. MEMBERS

That is not a point of Order.

Mr. JOHNSTON

I beg to move, in page 9, line 20, at the end, to insert the words: (2) The following paragraph shall be added after paragraph fifteen of the Second Schedule to the principal Act:— 15. A. It shall not be lawful to include in the expenses of and incidental to the arbitration and award, or to charge against any of the parties, any sum payable in respect of remuneration or expenses to any person appointed by the arbiter to act as clerk or otherwise to assist him in the arbitration unless such appointment was made after submission of the claim and answers to the arbiter and with either the consent of the parties to the arbitration or the sanction of the sheriff. The hon. Member for Aberdeen Central (Mr. R. W. Smith) need not take offence at what was obviously a humorous remark. May I point out that practically all these Clauses were elaborately discussed in Committee, and that it is purely a formal matter on Report stage, indeed most of these matters could be dealt with by the nodding of the head system. This Amendment is an attempt to meet the point which was raised in Committee, and I understand that there is general agreement that we have succeeded in doing so.

Mr. SPEAKER

Is the hon. Member moving an Amendment to Clause 27 or to Clause 26?

Mr. JOHNSTON

It should now be Clause 26. We have dropped a previous Clause, and this Clause becomes 26 and not 27, as it is on the Order Paper. The Amendment should come in on page 9, line 20, and I move it in that form.

Amendment agreed to.