HC Deb 05 May 1939 vol 346 cc2292-3

2.36 p.m.

Mr. H. G. Williams

I beg to move, in page 4, line 10, after "purpose." to insert: or carries on a voluntary hospital and is desirous of promoting collections for the purpose of that hospital. This Amendment must be read with the definition Amendment which defines "voluntary hospitals." I put this Amendment down by the request of the British Hospitals' Association who are greatly perturbed lest in some instances hospitals will be put to unnecessary trouble and their collectors will be subject to penalties. It would not occur in connection with a London hospital because in general its operations are concerned with people who live within the same police district, but in country areas it sometimes happens that a hospital serves people who live in a number of police districts or parts of a number of police districts. Therefore, many applications will be requisite and it might happen that all the applications might not be made. In that case there would be a risk of collectors subjecting themselves to penalties. There is no question of principle in this Amendment. It is merely a matter of convenience and machinery in the interests of a body which none of us want to hamper.

Mr. A. Somerville

I beg to second the Amendment.

2.37 p.m.

Mr. Craven-Ellis

I do not think the hon. Member for South Croydon (Mr. H. G. Williams) has clearly read Clause 3, because it would not be necessary for a voluntary hospital to apply to every police authority for a licence. It rather looks as though the Amendment were intended to put whatever trouble there may be upon the Home Secretary instead of upon the hospital. While a local voluntary hospital may overreach the police authority area in which the hospital is situated, it could not overreach many police areas. Therefore, I feel that the organisation which has asked the hon. Member to put the Amendment down has not clearly appreciated the position.

2.38 p.m.

Earl Winterton

The Home Office would prefer as a matter of administrative convenience that the Amendment was not accepted. The ground put forward by my hon. Friend the Member for South Croydon (Mr. H. G. Williams) that there would be trouble in having to apply to several police authorities, is one which applies not only to hospitals, but to all charities whose activities extend to more than one police area without covering a substantial part of the country. The trouble involved, however, will not be very great. The charity would, no doubt, apply to the police authority for the area in which its activities are chiefly centred and give full particulars to that authority. This could be stated in applications to other authorities and the police forces concerned would co-operate so as to avoid unnecessary duplication of inquiries. The Home Office do not feel that there is sufficient reason for making a departure from the general principle of the Clause. If the Hospitals' Association wish to promote a general collection it could do so under the provisions of the Bill. I hope that for reasons of administrative expediency my hon. Friend will not insist upon the Amendment.

Mr. H. G. Williams

While not fully persuaded by what has been said, nevertheless, realising that it is no good kicking against the pricks, I beg to ask leave to withdraw the Amendment.

Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.