HC Deb 27 July 1936 vol 315 cc1272-3

Lords Amendment: In line 8, leave out Clause 2.

Mr. LOFTUS

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

12.44 a.m.

Sir P. HARRIS

I understand that this is simply leaving out a complete Clause, but we are entitled to some explanation of the character of the proposed substitute. It should be made clear how far the Bill is changed or remains as it was.

The UNDER-SECRETARY of STATE for the HOME DEPARTMENT (Mr. Geoffrey Lloyd)

This is in fact a purely drafting alteration. The relevant provisions are partly in Clauses 1 and 4. There is no alteration in substance.

Subsequent Lords Amendments to page 3, line 6, agreed to.

Lords Amendment: After new Clause A, insert new Clause B (Provisions as to shops where several trades or businesses are carried on.) Where several trades or businesses are carried on in the same shop and any of those trades or businesses consist only of transactions of such a nature that if they were the only transactions carried on in the shop the provisions of this Act requiring the shop to be closed for the serving of customers for the whole or any part of Sunday would not apply to the shop, the shop may be kept open for the whole or any part of Sunday, as the case may be, for the purposes of those transactions alone, subject, however, to such conditions as may be prescribed.

Mr. LOFTUS

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

Sir P. HARRIS

May we have some explanation? We are simply passing Clauses and it is not made clear wherein they differ from the original Clauses. I do not wish to obstruct.

12.45 a.m.

Mr. LLOYD

This new Clause deals chiefly with the consumption of refreshments off the premises. Exemption was allowed for such premises as restaurants and cafes where there was a substantial trade. Representations were made that these restrictive exemptions would give rise to hardship in regard to the sale of ham and beef by ham and beef shops, and that street vendors would suffer hardship in regard to the sale of whelks and such things. It was therefore essential that special provision should be made in this new Clause.

Sir P. HARRIS

That means that the Bill is substantially changed for the better.

Subsequent Lords Amendments, to page 3, line 17, agreed to.