HC Deb 18 April 1944 vol 399 cc28-9
54. Sir Herbert Williams

asked the Lord President of the Council why the Order in Council, Judicial Committee Fees, approved by His late Majesty, King Edward VIII, on 30th April, 1936, was not published till after a lapse of nearly eight years as Statutory Rule & Order, No. 192, of 1944; to what extent effect was given to this Order in Council during the period it was not published; and whether his attention has been drawn to the fact that the first reference to the Order in Council of 1936, is contained in the Order in Council (S.R. & O., No. 193/L.14, of 1944), approved on 25th February, 1944, and published in April, 1944.

The Lord President of the Council (Mr. Attlee)

I am informed that, in connection with a recent amendment of the Judicial Committee Rules, 1925, the notice of the Editor of Statutory Rules & Orders was drawn to the fact that owing to inadvertence the Order in Council of the 30th April, 1936, to which my hon. Friend refers, was not at that time published as a Statutory Rule & Order. It was accordingly decided to issue it with the more recent amending Order. The Order of 1936 has had effect since the date of its approval; but it was published in the "London Gazette" on 8th May in that year and its provisions have in consequence been available to those affected by it. As regards the last part of the Question, my attention had not previously been drawn to the matter.

Sir H. Williams

Why is no reference made in the new Order in Council to publication in the "London Gazette" so that people may find what there was behind the Order in Council of 1936?

Mr. Attlee

Perhaps the hon. Member will put that question down.