§ Motion made, and Question proposed. "That the Clause stand part of the Bill."
§ Major C. S. TaylorI do not want to take up the time of the Committee for more than a few minutes but the Attorney-General referred to this Clause during the Second Reading as an important one which of course it is and all I want him to do now is to couple effi- 2158 ciency with generosity and to admit that it would be only right for the Government to accept responsibility in view of the fact that it was not the debtors or creditors mentioned in this Bill who were responsible for the exceptional circumstances in these areas but the Government who quite rightly did what they did for the benefit of the whole of Britain. The Attorney-General said that this was a reasonable concession by the Exchequer and I want him to say now that it is only right that the Government should accept this responsibility and say that for this reason they will not ask for any priority in the payment of debts to the Exchequer. I want them to say that because they accept this responsibility they will accept the same position as an ordinary creditor, so far as debtors in these areas are concerned. This is not only a reasonable concession; it is the right honest and honourable thing to do, because I submit that it was the Government who were responsible for making these coastal areas into defence and evacuated areas. I hope the Attorney-General will agree with me that it is not unreasonable to ask for a little more generosity in his wording of language about this particular Clause.
§ 3.45 P.m.
§ The Attorney-GeneralI think there is a lot to be said for the view that Hitler was responsible rather than the Government. It is quite wrong to personify the Government and suggest that this is something out of which we get a great deal of pleasure and ought to give away the taxpayer's money in consequence. But I do not want to quarrel with my hon. and gallant Friend about words. When I said it was reasonable, I thought I used a word which more or less satisfactorily covered the ground. If he wishes me to add that I also think it is right, I am perfectly prepared to do so. I think it is always right to do what is reasonable.
§ Clauses 12 to 22 ordered to stand part of the Bill.