HC Deb 21 May 1935 vol 302 cc976-8
Sir S. HOARE

I beg to move, in page 109, line 34, to leave out "acquire that land," and to insert "cause that land to be acquired."

This is a drafting Amendment.

Amendment agreed to.

Sir S. HOARE

I beg to move, in page line 37, after "enforceable," to insert "by or."

This and the next Amendment are genuinely drafting Amendments.

4.36 p.m.

Mr. C. WILLIAMS

What is the difference between a drafting Amendment and a genuinely drafting Amendment? It is perfectly remarkable where we are getting in this Bill. Here is an entirely new phrase. I do not want it to go out to the country that the Secretary of State has been trying to get away with drafting Amendments which really are not drafting Amendments. It is my desire to look after the right hon. Gentleman's personal character that causes me to raise this point.

Sir S. HOARE

I am much obliged to my hon. Friend, and I would like, with the permission of the House, to with draw the adverb.

Amendment agreed to.

Further Amendment made: In page 109, line 37, after "not," insert "by or"—[Sir S. Hoare.]

4.37 p.m.

The SOLICITOR-GENERAL

I beg to move, in page 110, line 6, at the end, to insert: (3) The authority may make working agreements with, and carry out working agreements made with, any Indian State or person owning or operating any railway in India, or in territories adjacent to India, with respect to the persons by whom and the terms on which any of the railways with which the parties are respectively concerned shall be operated. This is a drafting Amendment, or not very far off a drafting Amendment. It was suggested that in the absence of specific provisions the Federal Railway Authority when it exercises its executive authority in connection with railways might not have power, in making new working agreements, to delegate any necessary functions to some other body, and, therefore, these words are inserted. There is again a reference, as the hon. Member for Torquay (Mr. C. Williams) will have noticed, to "territories adjacent to India," which covers a small set of lines in Goa.

4.38 p.m.

Mr. C. WILLIAMS

In answer to the hon. and learned Gentleman and to show my gratitude, I am very glad that this point has been covered here. I would like to point out that, here we have an Amendment which covers a consider able amount of ground, and we have also a beautiful new phrase, namely, "not very far of f a drafting Amendment." That makes a further new kind of drafting Amendment. The Government, if they have done nothing else, are at any rate improving their vocabulary.

Amendment agreed to.