§ Isle of Arran Piers Order Confirmation Bill [Lords.] (By Order.)
§ Order for Third Reading read.
§ Motion made, and Question proposed, "That the Bill be now read the Third time."
§ Mr. KirkwoodI should like to ask two questions with regard to this Bill. In the first place on page 4, there are these words:
authorised by the Piers Orders to be demanded received and recovered for the use of the piers be deemed to be one undertaking.I want to know what is the idea of these four piers in the Island of Arran being deemed to be one undertaking—the piers of Lamlash, Loch Ranza, Whiting Bay, and Brodrick? What is the reason for these four piers being classed as one? I have had experience of a local authority desiring to take over a pier which was suitable. It may not be a local authority but the Government, which may desire to take over one of these piers for its aeroplanes and seaplanes, and the Duke of Montrose and his trustees may see a possibility of wringing more out of the Government by having these four piers as one undertaking in the Bill. My experience, again, is that the Duke does not sell his hens on a rainy day.
§ Mr. SpeakerI hope the hon. Member will be as short as possible.
§ Mr. KirkwoodI will not take five minutes, otherwise I shall object to the Bill, and my colleagues will see that it does not get through this House. I think that Clause 10 on page 7 is the secret of the whole affair. I cannot understand the Scottish Office on this matter. We are going to be rather suspicious. Clause 10 says: 3266
Subject to the provisions of the Air Navigation Acts, 1920 and 1936, … made in pursuance thereof the Trustees may demand levy collect and receive on and in respect of seaplanes entering or using the piers such reasonable rates.I want to know—and this is my last point—whether the Duke of Montrose and his trustees are going to wring from the Government payment because the Government are going to use these piers for their seaplanes. My constituency is the only one which is producing seaplanes, and they are to be used in the defence of our native land. Is the Duke of Montrose to walk away when he has land to defend? We have no land—except the whole of Scotland. Is it the case that they are to be allowed to demand this blood money from the Government? I want a satisfactory answer to my questions, otherwise I shall oppose the Bill.
The Under-Secretary of State for Scotland (Mr. Wedderburn)I will reply briefly to the hon. Member's questions. The amalgamation of the four piers into one undertaking does not alter the ownership as to rates levied in any way. It is simply for the purpose of administrative convenience, and as likely to lead to better management. As to the second question, the rates mentioned in Clause 10 are leviable under the Piers Orders, under which aeroplanes and seaplanes owned by the Government are in any case exempt.
§ Mr. GallacherThe Under-Secretary has, not answered the question as to the amalgamation of the four piers. Does that mean that if the Government want to take over one pier they will have to take over the four?
§ Question, "That the Bill be now read the Third time," put, and agreed to.
§ Bill read the Third time, and passed, without Amendment.