HC Deb 21 April 1948 vol 449 cc1899-900
The Joint Under-Secretary of State for Scotland (Mr. Thomas Fraser)

I beg to move, in page 67, line 30, to leave out "division," and to insert "area."

This is a drafting Amendment. It provides that in the Bill, as it applies to Scotland, the expression "electoral area" will have the same meaning as in the Local Government (Scotland) Act, 1947.

Amendment agreed to.

Further Amendment made: In line 36, leave out "such," and insert "electoral."—[Mr. T. Fraser.]

Mr. T. Fraser

I beg to move in page 67, line 36, at the end, to add: (4) Any reference to the report of an election court shall in relation to an election court under the Elections (Scotland) (Corrupt and Illegal Practices) Act, 18w, be construed as a reference to a finding of the court and the expression 'reported of a corrupt or illegal practice,' shall be construed accordingly. This is a drafting Amendment inasmuch as it was necessary to add these words to apply certain provisions of the Bill to Scotland; for example, Subsection (5) of Clause 49, and Subsection (1) of Clause 50.

Amendment agreed to.

Motion made, and Question proposed, "That the Clause, as amended, stand part of the Bill."

Mr. Maclay (Montrose Burghs)

The Under-Secretary of State for Scotland has made three admirable short speeches, but the fact that he is sitting surrounded by a large amount of paper cannot fail to make one feel that one ought to question him a little more closely on this Clause. Is there anything further he could say by way of explanation, with the assistance of the remarkable volume of paper beside him?

Mr. Fraser

I can assure the hon. Gentleman that these papers have no connection with the Amendments which I have moved.

Question put, and agreed to.

Clause, as amended, ordered to stand part of the Bill.