CLAUSE 2.—(Short title.) (Hansard, 11 August 1947)

§ Mr. Pitman

There are one or two points on Clause 2 which I think the Committee would like to consider. There is the question of whether the short Title is the right one for this particular Bill. There are three reasons why I think it might be improved. First, I think there ought to be greater conformity between the short Title and the long Title at the beginning of the Bill, where one sees the emphasis is on the purposes of the Bill and on extending them. The long Title reads: to extend the purposes of the Supplies and Services (Transitional Powers) Apt, 1945. I think we could on the Report stage induce the learned Attorney-General to accept an Amendment to the Title in that direction. It would have a very beneficial effect if we could bring the two into greater conformity. Secondly, it would be a very great help to people who are trying to administer and understand the Act to differentiate this Bill from that of 1945, for there is no difference between the Act of 1945 and this Bill, other than in one single digit. In other words, if it was called the Supplies and Services (Extended Purposes) Act, 1947, there would be a double difference, and the fact that it did differ would make it much more clear—to people handling the Bill. Thirdly, in principle it is wise that Bills 2158 we pass in this House should be carefully looked at to see that they do give to the people a true picture of what the Act will do, and I would submit to the Committee that "Transitional Powers" is not only the non-emphatic part of the Bill, but has by now become rather misleading in the sense that transition from war to peace has had two years' run, and presumably by now is fully completed. Therefore the real purpose in considering this Clause would be best achieved if we did make it perfectly clear that the transitional part was duly completed. I, therefore, appeal to the Attorney-General—he has not been very accommodating in regard to accepting some of the other Amendments—to beat me to the Table in the short interval between the Committee and Report stage, and to show his kindness in moving the appropriate Amendment himself, on the Report stage.

§ Mr. C. Williams

This is, as the Committee will have noticed, a very short Clause, and is, as the Committee will have noticed also, like everything else in the Bill, singularly unlucky. It is unlucky in that it consists of only 13 words. I should like to agree with my hon. Friend the Member for Bath (Mr. Pitman) that the two words "Transitional Powers" are unfortunate and not too accurate, and that they should be either cut out or extended. The words "Supplies and Services" are not in keeping with the wishes and aspirations of the Government. They are not in any way 2159 suitable for this Government or the Bill. I would suggest that it would have been very much better to have had instead of the words "Supplies and Services Act" the words "Cuts and Slavery Act."