HC Deb 14 November 1939 vol 353 cc598-9

Lords Amendment: In page 4, line 18, leave out "a", and insert "the".

4.46 p.m.

The Solicitor-General (Sir Terence O'Connor)

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

The Bill was originally drafted on the assumption that a referee would be appointed for each appeal from an Order. That. has been revised; and it has been decided that there should be a permanent referee, appointed for a specified period, and that the person appointed should undertake the hearing of all the appeals. The substitution of "the" for "a" is the first of a series of Amendments, the rest of which are consequential and give effect to that change.

4.47 p.m.

Mr. Rhys Davies

That means, I suppose, that the person appointed will be paid? If so, I take it that the Board of Trade intend that this Act shall be a very effective one, and that a sufficient number of cases will be brought forward to warrant the appointment of such a referee. I should like to know what salary it is intended that this gentleman shall be paid, and whether he must be a member of the legal profession. I see that there is an Amendment later on which provides that certain gentlemen connected with the administration of this Act must be members of the legal profession. I should very much like to know what salary it is intended shall be paid.

The Solicitor-General

Looking forward a little I think that a Lords Amendment which has been made to the Second Schedule will show that the person appointed shall be a member of the legal profession, and shall be appointed for a specified period, and so on. I am afraid I cannot answer the hon. Gentleman's point as to the salary, as that is not yet fixed.

Question put, and agreed to.

Subsequent Lords Amendments to page 7, line 40, agreed to.