HC Deb 05 August 1947 vol 441 cc1328-9

Where any body, not being a body to whom Part II of this Act applies, have among their objects the promotion or protection of the interests of electricity undertakers or any class thereof, or of the officers of electricity undertakers or any class thereof, and, by reason of the failure of the objects of the body in consequence of the provisions of this Act, the affairs of the body are being wound up, any assets of the body which, after satisfaction of all their debts and liabilities, remain undisposed of may, notwithstanding anything in any enactment or instrument defining the objects of the body or regulating their affairs, be applied in whole or in part in compensating the officers of the body."

Motion made, and Question proposed, "That this House doth agree with the Lords in the said Amendment."

5.0 p.m.

Colonel Crosthwaite-Eyre

This Amendment enables the Minister to make regulations with regard to local enactments that will be retrospective. Could the right hon. Gentleman give an undertaking that any such regulation will contain an indemnity, so that anything done under a local enactment which was not one of these retrospective regulations would not be the subject of litigation?

The Solicitor-General

It would be premature to give any undertaking in general terms. I am certain that my right hon. Friend, in making regulations under the powers vested in him will do his best to treat all persons fairly. I am sure that the hon. and gallant Member will realise that he cannot ask me now, looking over the wide purview of all possible regulations, to give such an undertaking. They will be operated fairly in all circumstances.

Mr. Charles Williams (Torquay)

We shall have these regulations coming on in due course, and I should have thought that now we are accepting these Amendments it might be in the general interest if we could have some idea of the lines which the Minister's mind is pursuing in this matter. It may be a little difficult for him to say very much, but I should have thought that he could have helped us in relation to the kind of policy he has in mind in connection with these regulations.

The Solicitor-General

With the permission of the House, may I tell the hon. Member that it is almost impossible to answer his question, because this Clause deals with modifications and adaptations? There will be a wide range of modifications and adaptations, and the Clause means that where there is a local enactment which does not fit the wording is altered so that its meaning can be extended to accommodate it to the new state of affairs.

Mr. Williams

Am I to understand that it is intended to deal only with small, and not with big, matters?

The Solicitor-General

It is to deal with modifications.

Lords Amendment: In page 79, line 25, at end, insert: