HC Deb 22 April 1932 vol 264 cc1777-9
The ATTORNEY-GENERAL

I beg to, move in page 2, line 8, leave out the words "All persons who at any time since" and to insert instead thereof the words: This Act shall be deemed to have had effect as from. The fact is that it is necessary to add some other words in order to make it clear that the Act is retrospective. The Clause, as I propose to amend it, will read as follows: This Act shall be deemed to have had effect as from the coming into operation of the Board of Trade Act, 1909, and accordingly all persons who have at any time since that date held the office of President of the Board of Trade shall be, and each and every of theta is, hereby freed, dis- charged and indemnified from all penalties, incapacities and disabilities whatsoever incurred by them, or any or either of them, by reason of their sitting or voting as Members of the Commons House of Parliament while holding the office of President of the Board of Trade, and shall be deemed to have boon capable at all times of being elected to and sitting in the said House.

Mr. COCKS

Would it be possible to have a Schedule to this Bill giving the names of the various persons who are affected by it?

The ATTORNEY-GENERAL

It would be possible, but it is not necessary.

Mr. DENMAN

We all know that the Board of Trade is a miscellaneous collection of persons some of whom have accidentally got into this House, and the list includes such people as the Speaker of the Parliament of Northern Ireland and the Archbishop of Canterbury. Of course, there is no danger of the Archbishop of Canterbury falling under any incapacity in regard to this Measure, and it is clear that some other members of the Board are not involved.

The ATTORNEY-GENERAL

It is quite clear that no salary is attached to any of the other offices except that of my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary, and in that case there is express provision in appropriate words in the Act passed in the reign of Queen Victoria.

Captain. PETER MACDONALD

Can the Attorney-General say what is the composition of the present Board of Trade, and when they last met?

Mr. C. WILLIAMS

Is the Attorney-General quite sure that the Secretary for Mines is exempted?

The ATTORNEY-GENERAL

The Secretary for Mines has nothing to do with the Acts which create this incapacity.

Amendment agreed to.

Further Amendments made:

In page 2, line 9, leave out the word "have", and insert instead thereof the words: and accordingly all persons who have at any time since that date. In line 16, at the end, add the words: and shall be deemed to have been capable at all times of being elected to and sitting in the said House."—[The Attorney-General.]

Motion made, and Question, "That the Clause, as amended, stand part of the Bill," put, and agreed to.