HC Deb 13 April 1934 vol 288 cc668-9
The CHAIRMAN

The Question is, "That the Clause—"

2 p.m.

Mr. C. WILLIAMS

Can we know what—

The CHAIRMAN

The hon. Member must really give the Chair a chance to put the Question, "That the Clause stand part of the Bill."

Mr. WILLIAMS

If I was a second before my time, I had no intention of interrupting the Chair, and I apologise most sincerely. Here again this is a matter of interpretation. As far as paragraph (b) is concerned, how far does that go? I can Understand the words "any company…empowered by Act of Parliament," but what about "an order confirmed by Parliament?" Those are rather more difficult, and I would ask the promoter of the Bill or the Parliamentary Secretary to state whether these things go beyond any normal point and whether we can rest assured that there is nothing in the Clause which in any way makes the position of the Ministry of Health difficult under their own new Bill, which has only been issued for a day or two. I think we should be assured that there has been a most close consideration of this Clause by the Government.

2.2 p.m.

Mr. SHAKESPEARE

I can assure my hon. Friend that there has been close consideration of this Bill for some time, and there is no discrepancy between it and the Government's Bill.

Mr. WILLIAMS

My hon. Friend said "for some time," but I understand that the Government's Bill has only quite recently been worked out. Can he give me a definite assurance that the new Bill is in no way interfered with by this Bill?

Mr. SHAKESPEARE

This Bill has been in front of Members for the last month, and we have been drawing up our Bill during all that time.

Question, "That the Clause stand part of the Bill," put, and agreed to.