HC Deb 17 December 1936 vol 318 cc2781-2

Order for Consideration of Lords Amendments read.

Motion made, and Question, "That the Lords Amendments be now considered," put, and agreed to.—[Sir J. Simon.]

Lords Amendments considered accordingly.

CLAUSE 2.—(Prohibition of quasi-military organisations.)

Lords Amendment: In page 4, line 7, leave out "organisation" and insert "employment."

11.3 p.m.

The SECRETARY of STATE for the HOME DEPARTMENT (Sir John Simon)

I beg to move, "That this House doth agree with the Lords in the said Amendment."

May I explain that this and the consequential Amendments will cause Subsection (6) to read as follows:

Nothing in this Section shall be construed as prohibiting the employment of a reasonable number of persons as stewards to assist in the preservation of order at any public meeting held upon private premises, or the making of arrangements for that purpose or the instruction of the persons to be so employed in their lawful duties as such stewards, or their being furnished with badges or other distinguishing signs. The change has been made in accordance with a promise indicated in the course of our Debate.

Subsequent Lords Amendments, to page 4, line 11, agreed to.

CLAUSE 3.—(Powers for the preservation of public order on the occasion, of processions.)

Lords Amendment: In page 4, line 15, leave out "any," and insert "public."

11.5 p.m.

Sir J. SIMON

I beg to move, "That this House doth agree with the Lords in the said Amendment."

Mr. KELLY

May we be told the reason for the insertion of this word "public"?

Sir J. SIMON

This and the seven or eight following changes, which are purely consequential, are to make it clear that the processions referred to in Clause 3 are public processions. The point was raised in another place that there might be such things as private processions which were not on any public street or on any public premises. No one denied that, and, indeed, the phrase "public procession" was used in another Clause of the Bill. It is plainly right to do this, and it will make the whole Bill consistent one Clause with another.

Subsequent Lords Amendments page 5, line 23, agreed to.

    cc2782-4
  1. CLAUSE 9.—(Interpretation, etc.) 633 words