§ The Chairman of Ways and Means (Sir Dennis Herbert)I beg to move,
That the obligations of the Grand Union Canal Company to promote a Bill to facilitate the consolidation of the Acts relating to the several parts of their undertaking and subsequently to promote a Bill to effect such consolidation, which obligations the Company are required to fulfil in the Session of 1944 and the Session of 1946, respectively, by virtue of a promise given in the proceedings before the Committee to which the Regent's Canal and Dock Company (Grand Junction Canal Purchase) Bill was referred in the year 1928 as varied by resolutions passed by this House on the 12th, day of July, 1932, the 27th day of July, 1937, and the 27th day of June, 1940, be suspended until the expiration of the Emergency Powers (Defence) Act, 1939, and thereafter until the Minister of War Transport shall give to the Company notice requiring them to promote such an Amending Bill, and such a Consolidation Bill after the expiration of such interval from the date of the notice as may be specified in the notice not being less than two years in the case of the Amending Bill or four years in the case of the Consolidation Bill.The House will not, I think, want any further long explanation from me on this occasion. Hon. Members will notice that the form of the Motion which has been put down does not finally relieve the company from their obligations to amend and consolidate, but enables their obligations to be revived on reasonable notice after the emergency period of the war.
§ Question put, and agreed to.