HC Deb 19 October 1939 vol 352 cc1106-7
Mr. Peake

I beg to move, in page 6, line 24, after "under," to insert "the provisions of Sections eleven and forty-four of."

The object of this Amendment is to save the position of Queen's University in Belfast. It would be rather a complicated matter for me to explain and I hope. therefore, that the Committee will not ask me to do it.

Miss Wilkinson

On a point of Order. May I ask whether we are now to be asked to pass legislation which the Minister finds too complicated either to understand or to explain to us?

The Chairman

There is no reason why the House should not excuse any Minister from giving any explanation the House does not want.

Mr. R. Gibson

Does the case of Queen's University fall under the general rule claimed by the Under-Secretary of State or under the exception which was repudiated by the hon. and learned Solicitor-General?

Mr. Peake

I think I had better say one word. The Committee will observe that under Clause 2 of the Bill registers of electors under Section 11 of the Representation of the People Act, 1918, remain in force, by virtue of this Bill, for another year. The registers of electors prepared at the universities do not come under Section 11 of the Representation of the People Act but under Section 19 of that Act. Registers are made up at the universities by the university authorities, and it is not intended to affect university registers by this Bill. Had we left Clause 9 as drafted, applying this Bill to Northern Ireland, then the register of electors at Queen's University, Belfast, would have fallen within the provisions of the Bill.

Amendment agreed to.

Further Amendment made: In page 6, line 31, leave out "Representation of the People Act," and insert"provisions."—[Mr. Peake.]

Clause, as amended, ordered to stand part of the Bill.