HC Deb 06 December 1939 vol 355 cc766-7

Considered in Committee under Standing Order No. 69.

[Sir DENNIS HERBERT in the Chair.]

Motion made, and Question proposed, That, for the purposes of any Act of the present Session to continue certain expiring laws, it is expedient to authorise—

  1. (a) the payment out of moneys provided by Parliament of such expenses as may be occasioned by the continuance of the Cotton Manufacturing Industry (Temporary 767 Provisions) Act, 1934, the Debts Clearing Offices and Import Restrictions Act, 1934, and the Special Areas (Amendment) Act, 1937, until the thirty-first day of December, nineteen hundred and forty, being expenses which, under any of the three last-mentioned Acts, are to be defrayed out of such moneys; and
  2. (b) the payment into the Exchequer of such receipts as may be occasioned by the continuance of the Debts Clearing Offices and Imports Restrictions Act, 1934, and the Special Areas (Amendment) Act, 1937, until the said date, being receipts which, under either of the last-mentioned Acts, are to be paid into the Exchequer."—(King's Recommendation signified.)—[Captain Crookshank.]

8.28 p.m.

Mr. Lawson

The Committee will have noticed that in the Financial Resolution the Special Areas (Amendment) Act, 1937, is specifically mentioned. That, of course, was not the case in the original Financial Resolution, neither is the Special Areas Act actually in the Expiring Laws Continuance Bill. I rise to say that we appreciate the fact that there is now an understanding that the Special Areas Act shall be included in the Bill in its Committee stage, and I understand that the Minister of Labour will probably be in a position to give a definite promise to that effect, as there was some dissatisfaction on this matter. It is not our desire to cause any debate on the subject, but rather to express satisfaction at the understanding that the Special Areas Act will be included in the Bill and will, therefore, live for another year, with a prospect of doing its proper work during the coming year.

The Minister of Labour (Mr. Ernest Brown)

This Resolution shows that the way is now open for the putting down of an Amendment, as the hon. Gentleman said, to include the Special Areas (Amendment) Act, 1937, and the Government will put down such an Amendment for the Committee stage.

Question put, and agreed to.

Resolution to be reported To-morrow.