HC Deb 11 May 1936 vol 312 cc147-8

Order for Second Reading read.

9.49 p.m.

Mr. LLOYD

I beg to move, "That the Bill be now read a Second time."

I think I can say that this is an entirely uncontroversial Bill. It is designed to remedy a defect which has only recently become apparent in the machinery provided under the Petroleum (Consolidation) Act, 1928, in respect of licences for the keeping of petroleum spirit. The machinery of the Act worked quite well in so far as the granting of licences was concerned, but it became apparent very recently that there was in fact no power to transfer licences. The House, and especially the legal Members of it, will see that that is not a position that can be allowed to continue. It follows that many transfers of licences already affected have no legal force, and also that, until the law is altered, all applications for such transfers will have to be met by the granting of a new licence, which is an unnecessary and, in some cases, an expensive procedure. The present Bill is confined solely to the regularisation of the transfer of licences both retrospectively and for the future. Hon. Gentlemen will appreciate that it may be that the keeper of a particular store in which petroleum is kept may transfer his business and licence to a different occupier. It is these circumstances for which it is sought to provide in this small Bill. There is no other purpose in the Bill; it is simply for remedying this defect which happened not to be discovered before.

Mr. SHORT

We on the Opposition benches regard this Bill as a very necessary adjustment of the law and do not offer any opposition to it.

Bill committed to a Committee of the Whole House, for To-morrow.—[Commander Southby.]