HC Deb 19 November 1940 vol 365 cc1884-5

Motion made, and Question proposed, "That the Clause stand part of the Bill."

Sir F. Fremantle

May I ask the Minister why we should have a separate administrative board for each of the first two Clauses of the Bill?

Mr. Peake

I am sorry that I forgot to cover this question during the earlier stage. There has to be an administrative board under each of these Clauses of the Bill, but I think I am right in saying that the same body of persons will perform the functions under the two parts of the scheme.

Sir F. Fremantle

I take it that there is no chance of getting the limitations reduced at the present time?

Mr. Peake

No, I am afraid not.

Question, "That the Clause stand part of the Bill," put, and agreed to.

Remaining Clauses ordered to stand part of the Bill.

Bill reported, without Amendment.

Motion made, and Question proposed, "That the Bill be now read the Third time.">

Sir F. Fremantle

On a point of Order. We have to-day passed the Second Reading and, at once, the Committee stage, so that there has been no opportunity for putting down Amendments to the Bill, which can be done only after the Second Reading. That gave us about one minute. Is it not advisable to allow some little interval between the Second Reading and the Committee stage?

Mr. Speaker

That course was suggested to the House, and the House thought otherwise.

Sir F. Fremantle

The House was not consulted on the subject.

Mr. Speaker

The Question was put to the House that the House should resolve itself into the Committee on the Bill.

Dr. Morgan (Rochdale)

Can I have an assurance from the Government that these words, totally and permanently incapacitated for work, which medical officers have to determine, shall be used in a commonsense way as meaning incapacity for industrial work? There is a danger of their being interpreted as meaning total and permanent incapacity for exertion or work of any kind. Some medical officers go so far as to suggest that a man, even if he is on his last legs, is never incapable of exertion or work of some kind. I would like to refer in passing to the very good work done by the fine team of medical men in the Home Office, and I should be glad to have an assurance in regard to the point I have mentioned. The words should mean total and permanent incapacity for industrial work, and especially for work in the industry in which these men have been employed.

Mr. Peake

The hon. Member has raised rather a technical point which has been the subject of some correspondence between representatives of the workers and the Home Office. I think I had better communicate with him privately in regard to this matter.

Question, "That the Bill be now read the Third time," put, and agreed to.

Bill read the Third time, and passed, without Amendment.

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