HC Deb 18 October 1944 vol 403 c2432

1.48 p.m.

The Attorney-General (Sir Donald Somerville)

I beg to move, in page 17, line 22, to leave out "Department", and insert "Minister."

Mr. Manningham-Buller

Are we not going to have an explanation of these changes, which were resisted when proposed in Committee?

The Attorney-General

I do not think my hon. Friend uses the right word when he says "resisted." Looking across to the opposite side of the Bill as it then was it is clear that "the Department" meant "the Minister." We realise that there was a perfectly good point here and it is rather important to use the best phraseology. I pay a tribute to my hon. Friend. We think his suggestion on balance is right, and we therefore adopt it.

Sir Joseph Lamb (Stone)

I congratulate the Minister on what he is doing. He is the person responsible to the House and it is right that his name should appear.

Mr. Manningham-Buller

I, too, should like to thank the Minister for adopting this suggestion.

Amendment agreed to.

Consequential Amendments made.

Further Amendment made: In page 19, line 28, leave out from "Act," to "the," in line 29, and insert: which Minister was or is the appropriate Minister as defined in this Sub-section."—[The Attorney-General.]