HC Deb 19 December 1934 vol 296 cc1294-5

11.52 p.m.

The LORD ADVOCATE (Mr. Normand)

I beg to move, in page 2, line 31, to leave out from "Where," to "a," in line 35, and to insert: with a view to the re-organisation of any endowment the Commissioners, in pursuance of section eighteen of the Act of 1928, cause to be printed the draft of a scheme, or, in pursuance of section twenty or section twenty-two of the said Act, submit for the approval of the Department a scheme, or amended scheme, they shall prefix to such draft or scheme or amended scheme. This is the first of a series of Amendments the purpose of which is to give effect to an undertaking given in the Committee stage. As Clause 4 stands at present the commissioners are bound to include in their explanatory memorandum reasons for any action taken at two stages—at the stage of framing a scheme for presentation to the commissioners, and at the stage when framing the amended scheme. In Committee my right hon. Friend undertook to amend the Clause, so that reasons for action should be included in a memorandum, not only at these two stages, but also at an earlier stage when framing the draft scheme sent to the trustees who hold the endowment.

11.54 p.m.

Sir M. McKENZIE WOOD

I am glad the Government have put this Amendment down, for I am sure it is important. I suppose it will be convenient to take the Amendments all together, but I should like the right hon. Member to look at the third Amendment. Should not the Amendment include Section 22, which deals with the amended scheme? I think it will be necessary.

Amendment agreed to.

Further Amendment made: In page 2, line 40, after the second "the," to insert "draft or scheme or amended."—[The Lord Advocate.]

11.55 p.m.

The LORD ADVOCATE

I beg to move, in page 3, line 5, to leave out "Section," and to insert "Sections eighteen and."

I have considered the point raised by my hon. Friend the Member for Banff (Sir M. McKenzie Wood), but I do not think it is necessary to carry out his suggestion. The procedure under Section 22 of the Act of 1928 is the procedure under Section 20, and accordingly the Amendment would include the application of the provision to amended schemes in all circumstances.

Amendment agreed to.

Further Amendments made:

In page 3, line 7, leave out "a scheme or," and insert "the draft of a scheme or to a scheme or to."

In line 9, leave out from "part," to the end of the Clause, and insert "thereof."—[The Lord Advocate.]