HC Deb 06 December 1932 vol 272 cc1588-9
Sir K. VAUGHAN-MORGAN

I beg to move, "That the Chairman do report Progress, and ask leave. to sit again."

We have to-day dealt with 86 or 87 Clauses, and those who take an interest in the Bill have been in the House, with brief intervals, for the best part of eight hours. I think we might adjourn the consideration of the new Clauses and Schedules to another occasion.

11.20 p.m.

Sir J. NALL

I want to ask the Minister if he will take the opportunity of making an explanation be fore we finish the Committee stage, in order that we might not prolong the matter on the Report stage; and this is the appropriate moment, before we, resume the Committee stage on the new Clauses. The new undertaking will include the old Underground group and the Metropolitan Railway Company, and the House ought to have some declaration as to the intentions of policy from the Minister in relation to the parcels service. The Metropolitan Railway conducts a very considerable parcels service, which is in no way comparable to that of the Underground companies, who do not cater specially for parcels traffic. The Committee ought to know; Is it considered that the new board, as the one monopoly passenger organisation for this area, should develop a parcels service in connection with its organisation?

The DEPUTY-CHAIRMAN

I am afraid that this does not arise on the question of reporting Progress.

Sir J. NALL

On the question of reporting Progress, it would, of course, be a matter of concern inn regard to the first of the new Clauses which we take when we resume Progress. That Clause relates to the existing scales of charges and so on, and the scope and extent to which they may be used. When we resume consideration would be an available opportunity for the Minister to indicate whether the new board is to conduct the various subsidiary departments of the several undertakings, either within the scope in which they have been conducted in the past, or whether it is proposed to extend these activities to the whole area included in the Bill.

11.23 p.m.

The ATTORNEY-GENERAL

I am afraid that I cannot deal with the points raised by my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Hulme (Sir J. Nall). They will arise upon the new Clauses which we have to discuss, and I cannot discuss them now. As to the proposal to report Progress, the Committee has been exceedingly patient, and I think it will be for the general convenience not to take the new Clause now, particularly as I think that it would be appropriate if the Schedules were, in any case, taken on a different day. I do not know whether the Committee would be prepared to arrive at an understanding that we shall get the new Clauses and the Schedules in about half a day. The greater part of the Schedules is really consequential. They have been discussed, and they are nothing like so formidable as they look on the Order Paper. We should like a general understanding as to when we shall finish the Committee stage. I propose to assent to the proposal that we do now report Progress.

11.24 p.m.

Sir S. CRIPPS

So far as we are concerned. we are anxious to do anything we can to assist, and we shall certainly try to see that the rest of the Bill is got through in half a day. I am sure that the Committee is most grateful to the Attorney-General. I am glad to accept the suggestion that he has been good enough to snake.

11.25 p.m.

Mr. C. WILLIAMS

Without in any sense accepting that the proposal as to half a day is adequate, in view of the extraordinary courtesy of the Attorney-General, I will do my best to see that the Committee stage does not take long; but the whole of the proceedings on the Bill have been a definite scandal.

Committee report Progress; to sit again upon Thursday.