HC Deb 18 February 1948 vol 447 cc1189-97
Mr. Turton

I beg to move, in page 7, line 38, at the end, to insert: if immediately before the said change an equalisation grant was payable to that authority. This is a curious and striking Clause in that it stops a practice which has gone on since 1913. When we had a revision of local boundaries, there were negotiations as to the added burden that had been placed on the local authorities which lost an area because another local authority gained it. It is a feature of which many hon. Members are aware in their own constituencies and otherwise. The great spreading of the urban authorities results in great hardship to the surrounding ones, because they lose important rateable value. Ever since 1913, when a Select Committee of this House laid down the procedure, negotiations have gone on, and, if there is a difference of opinion, arbitration is provided as to what amount of added burden should be paid in the adjustment.

The Minister now says that the standard rateable value is such a lightly adjusted factor that that procedure will no longer be necessary, and the Minister is always very certain of his powers in this respect, as in other respects and other Act. It may be that he will find difficulties on this Clause, as he is finding under another Act recently passed. The point to which I want to draw the attention of the Committee today is that, if the authority does not receive an Exchequer equalisation grant, the Minister cannot possibly adjust it at all.

4.45 p.m.

It would be easier if I illustrated my point by taking a concrete example. I am in a difficulty in doing so because, when the Bill was introduced, the Minister went to great trouble and expense—the nation's expense—in publishing Command Paper 7253, which sets out which authorities were to get the Exchequer equalisation grants. I asked the right hon. Gentleman a fortnight ago If he could give the alterations and was somewhat surprised to find that the whole of that Paper, published at considerable expense to the taxpayer, was completely inaccurate, and the Minister has now given us, not in the form of a White Paper but in a page of HANSARD, a completely different set of figures showing quite different authorities which get these equalisation grants and those that do not. I have found one that is common to both lists, although the amounts received are somewhat different.

Let us take the counties of East and West Sussex. Under the revised version—I have not got the authorised version in front of me—East Sussex will get a transitional grant of £70,853, but will get no equalisation grant at all. Let us suppose that East Sussex loses a valuable rateable area to one of the towns in East Sussex. We have not got this added burden adjustment procedure which we have had for the last 35 years. The Minister's equalisation grant will not operate, and so the ratepayers of East Sussex will have "had it", and it is just bad luck for them. I think I know what the Minister will say. It will be, "After all, they are pretty rich, and I have not got much sympathy with them. What does it matter if we do injure the rich? We are doing it every day of our lives." That I think, will be the reply to this Amendment. On that side of the Committee, it might have some weight, but I do not think it will in the country, and still less in East Sussex. Therefore, I hope the Minister will apply himself to this question and accept this Amendment.

Mr. Bevan

The hon. Member has sought to raise the issue of burden payments, as it were, by a side door. The Amendment, as he knows, is an exceedingly narrow one, and no one would be more disturbed than he, I am quite sure, if I accepted such a monstrosity as this Amendment actually is. What it would do, in effect, would be to make burden payments possible only to that area of local government which is outside the area receiving the equalisation grant. Why on earth that should be so I cannot for the life of me understand, because it could quite easily happen that a burden payment under the hon. Member's proposal would come, not from a rich authority to a poor authority but from a poor authority to a rich one, relative to each other. It is perfectly true that the poor authority would not be poor in the sense that it would be receiving the equalisation grant; otherwise, the Amendment would not apply to it, but it still might be very much poorer than the authority—

Mr. Turton

That would be a factor to be taken into account by the arbitrator in the arbitration proceedings.

Mr. Bevan

Why should the arbitrator take that particular matter into consideration? All that the arbitrator normally takes into consideration is whether, in fact, the burden has been transferred and assets have been transferred from one authority to another, or a burden has been imposed as between one authority and another. What does take into account the relative wealth of the two authorities is the equalisation grant itself. If it happens that the re-allocation of functions and of territory brought the local authority adversely affected by it too low, it would bring that authority within the area covered by the equalisation grant, and so such assets as would be realised by it would be mitigated by the grant. If, on the other hand, the authority has not received such damage as to bring it within the equalisation formula, then, obviously, it is still sufficiently prosperous as against other local authorities within the equalisation grant.

We have discussed this matter over and over again. We have always taken the view that such re-distributions of functions and boundaries as would be made, particularly of boundaries, would be made for good local government reasons. Therefore, the reorganisation would still leave each authority violable. That being so, there is no justification at all for the cumbrous, expensive forms of burden payments to which we have been accustomed, and which usually provided handsome revenues for accountants and arbitrators, made bad blood between local authorities, and perpetrated the stupid position of one local authority permanently contributing to the revenue of another.

Lieut.-Colonel Elliot

The Minister, with his logical mind, continues to insist that he has discovered a formula which, by the smooth and flexible nature of its working, will automatically solve all the difficulties that arise in this complex business of the adjustment of the boundaries of local authorities, and many other things. That view is not universally shared in the Committee. I would mention in passing that hon. Members of all parties have been to see the right hon. Gentleman on another question—the finance of this Bill—and the fact is that the local authorities themselves have worked out this procedure over a long number of years, and that it is a very useful thing indeed. It is going too far to say that if, as the Minister says now, and, indeed, as he said in Committee upstairs, the authority from which the area has been transferred still remains an authority which is particularly well off, it will not benefit. That, in so many words, is the argument used by my hon. Friend who moved the Amendment. It is the principle of "soak the rich," reduced to local authority adjustments. That is not always the simplest way of working. The fact of the matter is, as we said during the Committee stage, a cash payment has a wonderful emollient effect in dealing with the difficulties of readjustment. On that occasion, the Minister said, "How sordid," but we were not able to follow him to the heights of his Celtic idealism on that occasion.

As we said on Committee—we do not wish to reiterate our arguments made then—there seems to be a division of opinion between the two, sides on this point. Our side, as is not unnatural, hold that because the system has worked in the past that is a reason for giving it further consideration, while the Minister, as is probably right in his radical zeal, says that, because a thing is old, it should be swept away. The correct view, no doubt, lies somewhere between the two. But the Minister is altogether exaggerating the reliance to be placed on the formulae to solve those difficulties automatically as they come up.

He said that this Amendment was a monstrosity. We put it down to make sure that some Amendment should be called. The Amendment having been called, the Question, "That the Clause stand part of the Bill" will have to be put. We will defer our decision until that Question is put. The fact is that we do not agree with the Minister's view on this point, but I do not think we shall get closer to it by argument. We wish to register a division of opinion on this matter, which the right hon. Gentleman will find, in practice, will give him a great deal more trouble than he allows for. Therefore, in the interest of good administration, I beg him not to tie his hands and the administrations of the future, as he now proposes to do, and not to say that no grant shall be made for any payment to a local authority under, etc., etc. That would be setting up an absolute bar which we think would be to the disadvantage of good administration, and, if the Minister is ever to operate this procedure, to the disadvantage of the Minister himself.

Mr. C. Williams

I was interested in the Minister's speech. There were parts of it which had a persuasive element, especially that part where he was pointing out that, if this Amendment were accepted, it might make a great deal of work for lawyers at a high fee. I can assure the right hon. Gentleman and also my right hon. and gallant Friend the Member for the Scottish Universities (Lieut.-Colonel Elliot) that if I thought that was going to be the position brought about by this Amendment, I should, as usual, do my best to see that It was not accepted.

Mr. Turton

The Minister said, "accountants and arbitrators." not "lawyers."

Mr. Williams

I rather think that correction is right, but it only means what I might describe as a variation in the type of professional men. If that were the result of this Amendment, there would be something to be said against it. I find myself in very considerable doubt, however, whether the Minister has any real reason for not accepting it. I quite realise that he got a bit hot and bothered, but that is a very constant state with the Minister these days.

The only thing this Amendment seeks to do is to provide some adjustment on those occasions when great changes are made in the boundaries of local authorities. Such changes are coming, and there have been many arguments on matters of that kind. For instance, in the West Country there is still indecision whether the County Council of Cornwall or the City of Plymouth is to absorb a certain large area. That is an illustration of what my hon. Friend said, and something which might make a terrific change in the rateable value of one or other authority. If we have these adjustments, we shall not have, as the Minister said, adequate and fair readjustment of the value under the scheme in this Bill.

As far as I can understand the Amendment—and I think it is a perfectly easy and clear one to deal with—it is one which ought to have been in the Bill from the beginning. What is the good of having these adjustments, or a Clause of this kind, if the Bill is worded in such a way that it does not meet all the troubles and difficulties which will arise in the immediate future? On this occasion, if I may say so with adequate respect, the Minister seems to have run away with himself. The only conclusion I can come to—and I daresay other hon. Members share the same conclusion—is that, in some way or other, he has got hold of the wrong brief on this Amendment. I hope that the Amendment will be added to the Bill.

Amendment negatived.

Motion made, and Question put, "That the Clause stand part of the Bill."

The Committee divided: Ayes, 265; Noes, 132.

Division No. 80.] AYES. 4.16 p.m
Acland, Sir R Bechervaise, A. E Brooks, T. J. (Rothwell)
Adams, Richard (Balham) Benson, G Brown, T. J. (Ince)
Alexander, Rt. Hon A. V Berry, H. Brown, W. J. (Rugby)
Alpass, J. H Beswick, F Bruce, Maj. D. W T
Anderson, A. (Motherwell) Bevan, Rt Hon. A. (Ebbw Vale) Buchanan, Rt. Hon. G.
Anderson, F. (Whitehaven) Bevin, Rt Hon. E. (Wandsworth C.) Burke, W. A.
Attewell, H. C. Bing, G. H. C Butler, H W. (Hackney, S.)
Austin, H. Lewis Binns, J. Byers, Frank
Ayles, W H. Blackburn, A. R Carmichael, James
Ayrton Gould, Mrs B Blyton, W. R Castle, Mrs. B. A.
Bacon, Miss A. Bowles, F. G. (Nuneaton) Chamberlain, R. A
Balfour, A. Braddock, Mrs. E. M (L'[...]l, Exch'ge) Champion, A. J
Barstow, P. G Braddock, T. (Mitcham) Chater, D
Barton, C Bramall, E A. Chetwynd, G. R
Battley, J. R. Brook, D (Halifax) Cluse, W. S.
Cocks, F. S Irving, W. J. (Tottenham, N.) Richards, R.
Coldrick, W. Jeger, G. (Winchester) Ridealgh, Mrs. M.
Collindridge, F Jeger, Dr. S. W. (St. Pancras, S.E.) Robens, A.
Collins, V. J. Jones, P Asterley (Hitchin) Roberts, Emrys (Merioneth)
Colman, Miss G. M Keenan W. Roberts, W. (Cumberland, N.)
Comyns, Dr. L. Kenyon, C. Robertson, J. J. (Berwick)
Cook, T. F. Key, C W. Rogers, G. H. R
Cooper, Wing-Comdr. G. Kinghorn, Sqn.-Ldr. E. Sargood, R.
Corbet, Mrs. F. K. (Camb'well, N.W.) Kinley, J. Scollan, T.
Corlett, Dr. J. Kirkwood, Rt. Hon D Scott-Elliot, W.
Cove, W. G. Lang, G Segal, Dr. S.
Crawley, A. Lawson, Rt. Hon J. J. Sharp, Granville
Cunningham, P. Lee, F. (Hulme) Shurmer, P.
Daggar, G. Leonard, W. Silverman, J. (Erdington)
Daines, P. Leslie, J. R. Silverman, S. S. (Nelson)
Davies, Clement Rt. Hon. (Montgomery) Lewis. A. W J. (Upton) Skeffington, A. M.
Davies, Edward (Burslem) Lewis, T (Southampton) Skeffington-Lodge, T. C.
Davies, Ernest (Enfield) Lindgren, G. S. Skinnard, F. W.
Davies, Harold (Leek) Lipson, D. L. Smith, C. (Colchester)
Davies, Haydn (St. Pancras, S.W.) Lipton, Lt.-Col. M. Smith, Ellis (Stoke)
Davies, S. O. (Merthyr) Longden, F. Smith, H. N. (Nottingham, S.)
Delargy, H. J. Lyne, A W. Smith, S. H. (Hull, S.W.)
Dobbie, W McAdam, W. Snow, J W
Dodds, N. N. McEntee, V. La T. Sorensen, R W
Driberg, T. E. N. McGhee, H. G. Sparks, J A.
Dumpleton, C. W Mack, J. D Stamford, W.
Durbin, E. F M. McKay, J (Wallsend) Stokes, R. R.
Dye, S. Mackay, R. W. G. (Hull, N.W.) Stross, Dr. B.
Ede, Rt. Hon. J. C. McKinlay, A. S. Summerskill, Dr. Edith
Edelman, M. Maclean, N. (Govan) Sylvester, G. O.
Edwards, Rt. Hon. Sir C. (Bedwellty) McLeavy, F. Symonds, A. L.
Edwards, John (Blackburn) MacMillan, M. K. (Western Isles) Taylor, H B. (Mansfield)
Evans, A (Islington, W.) Macpherson, T. (Romford) Taylor, R. J. (Morpeth)
Evans, E. (Lowestoft) Mainwaring, W. H. Taylor, Dr. S. (Barnet)
Evans, John (Ogmore) Mallalieu, J. P. W. Thomas, D E. (Aberdare)
Evans, S. N. (Wednesbury) Mann, Mrs. J. Thomas, Ivor (Keighley)
Ewart, R. Manning, Mrs. L. (Epping) Thomas, George (Cardiff)
Fairhurst, F. Mathers, Rt. Hon. G. Thorneycroft, Harry (Clayton)
Farthing, W. J Medland, H. M. Thurtle, Ernest
Fletcher, E. G. M (Islington, E.) Mellish, R. J. Tiffany, S.
Foot, M. M. Middleton, Mrs. L. Timmons, J.
Forman, J. C. Mikardo, Ian Titterington, M. F.
Fraser, T. (Hamilton) Mitchison, G. R. Tolley, L.
Freeman, Peter (Newport) Monslow, W. Tomlinson, Rt. Hon. G.
Ganley, Mrs. C. S. Moody, A. S. Turner-Samuels, M
George, Lady M. Lloyd (Anglesey) Morley, R. Vernon, Maj. W. F.
Gibbins, J Morris, P. (Swansea, W.) Viant, S. P.
Gibson, C. W. Morris, Hopkin (Carmarthen) Walker, G. H.
Glanville, J. E. (Consett) Mort, D. L. Wallace, G. D. (Chislehurst)
Grenfell, D R. Moyle, A. Warbey, W. N.
Grey, C. F. Murray, J D. Watkins, T. E.
Grierson, E. Nally, W. Watson, W. M.
Griffiths, W. D. (Moss Side) Naylor, T. E. Webb, M. (Bradford, C.)
Guest, Dr. L. Haden Neal, H. (Claycross) Wells, P. L. (Faversham)
Guy, W. H. Nicholls, H. R. (Stratford) Wells, W. T. (Walsall)
Haire, John E. (Wycombe) Noel-Baker, Capt. F. E. (Brentford) West, D. G.
Hale, Leslie Oldfield, W. H. Westwood, Rt. Hon. J.
Hall, Rt. Hon. Glenvil Oliver, G H Wheatley, J T (Edinburgh, E.)
Hamilton, Lieut.-Col. R. Paget, R. T. White, C. F. (Derbyshire, W.)
Hardman, D. R. Paling, Will T. (Dewsbury) White, H. (Derbyshire, N.E.)
Hardy, E. A. Paton, Mrs F (Rushcliffe) Whiteley, Rt. Hon. W.
Harrison, J. Paton, J. (Norwich) Wilkins, W. A.
Hastings, Dr. Somerville Pearson, A Willey, F. T. (Sunderland)
Herbison, Miss M. Perrins, W. Willey, O. G. (Cleveland)
Hicks, G. Piratin, P. Williams, D. J. (Neath)
Hobson, C. R Popplewell, E. Williams, J. L. (Kelvingrove)
Holman, P. Porter, E. (Warrington) Williams, W. R. (Heston)
Holmes, H. E. (Hemsworth) Porter, G. (Leeds) Willis, E.
Horabin, T. L. Price, M. Philips Wills, Mrs. E. A
House, G. Proctor, W T. Woodburn, A.
Hoy, J. Pryde, D J. Yates, V. F.
Hudson, J. H. (Ealing, W.) Pursey, Cmdr. H. Younger, Hon. Kenneth
Hughes, Emrys (S. Ayr) Randall, H. E.
Hughes, Hector (Aberdeen, N.) Ranger, J TELLERS FOR THE AYES:
Hughes, H. D. (W'lverh'pton, W.) Rankin, J. Mr. J. Henderson and
Hynd, H. (Hackney, C.) Reeves, J. Mr. Simmons.
Irvine, A. J. (Liverpool) Reid, T. (Swindon)
NOES.
Agnew, Cmdr. P. G. Head, Brig. A. H. Price-White, Lt.-Col. D
Amory, D. Heathcoat Headlam, Lieut.-Col Rt. Hon. Sir C. Prior-Palmer, Brig. O
Anderson, Rt. Hn. Sir J. (Scot. Univ.) Hollis, M. C. Raikes, H. V.
Beamish, Maj. T. V H. Hope, Lord J. Ramsay, Maj. S.
Beechman, N. A. Hutchison, Lt.-Cm. Clark (E'b'rgh W.) Reed, Sir S. (Aylesbury)
Bennett, Sir P. Jeffreys, General Sir G. Roberts, Peter (Ecclesall)
Birch, Nigel Keeling, E. H. Robertson, Sir D. (Streatham)
Boles, Lt.-Col. D. C. (Wells) Kerr, Sir J. Graham Robinson, Roland
Boothby, R. Lambert, Hon. G Ross, Sir R. D. (Londonderry)
Bossom, A. C. Legge-Bourke, Maj. E. A. H. Sanderson, Sir F.
Bower, N. Lennox-Boyd, A. T. Savory, Prof. D. L.
Boyd-Carpenter, J. A. Low, A. R. W. Scott, Lord W.
Bromley-Davenport, Lt.-Col. W. Lucas-Tooth, Sir H. Shephard, S. (Newark)
Bullock, Capt. M. MacAndrew, Col. Sir C. Smiles, Lt.-Col. Sir W.
Challen, C. McCallum, Maj. D. Snadden, W. M.
Channon, H. Macdonald, Sir P. (I. of Wight) Spearman, A. C. M.
Clarke, Col. R. S. McFarlane, C. S. Spence, H. R.
Clifton-Brown, Lt.-Col. G. Mackeson, Brig. H. R. Stewart, J. Henderson (Fife, E.)
Cooper-Key, E. M. McKie, J. H. (Galloway) Stoddart-Scott, Col. M.
Crosthwaite-Eyre, Col. O. E. Maclean, F. H. R. Strauss, H. G (English Universities)
Crowder, Capt. John E. Macmillan, Rt. Hon. Harold (Bromley) Sutcliffe, H.
Cuthbert, W. N. Macpherson, N. (Dumfries) Taylor, Vice-Adm. E. A (P'dd't'n, S)
Darling, Sir W. Y. Marples, A. E. Teeling, William
Digby, S. W. Marshall, D. (Bodmin) Thorneycroft, G. E. P. (Monmouth)
Dodds-Parker, A. D. Marshall, S. H. (Sutton) Thorp, Lt.-Col. R. A. F
Drayson, G. B. Medlicott, F. Touche, G. C.
Drewe, C. Mellor, Sir J. Turton, R H.
Dugdale, Maj. Sir T. (Richmond) Molson, A. H. E. Vane, W. M. F.
Duthie, W. S. Moore, Lt.-Col. Sir T. Walker-Smith, D.
Eccles, D. M. Morris-Jones, Sir H Ward, Hon. G. R.
Eden, Rt. Hon. A. Morrison, Maj. J. G. (Salisbury) Wheatley, Col. M. J. (Dorset, E.)
Elliot, Lieut.-Col., Rt. Hon. W Morrison, Rt. Hon. W. S. (Cirencester) White, Sir D. (Farsham)
Fleming, Sqn.-Ldr. E. L. Neven-Spence, Sir B. Williams, C. (Torquay)
Fraser, H. C. P. (Stone) Odey, G. W. Willoughby de Eresby, Lord
Galbraith, Cmdr. T. D. O'Neill, Rt. Hon. Sir H. York, C.
Gammans, L. D. Orr-Ewing, I. L.
Gomme-Duncan, Col A. Osborne, C. TELLERS FOR THE NOES:
Grimston, R. V. Peto, Brig. C H. M. Mr. Studholme and
Hannon, Sir P. (Moseley) Pitman, I. J. Major Conant.
Harvey, Air-Comdre. A. V. Poole, O. B. S. (Oswestry)

Question put, and agreed to.

Division No. 81.] AYES. [5.0 p.m.
Acland, Sir R Ganley, Mrs. C S Morris, P. (Swansea, W.)
Alexander, Rt. Hon A. V Gibbins, J Morrison, Rt Hon. H. (Lewisham, E.)
Alpass, J H Gibson, C W Mort, D. L.
Anderson, A. (Motherwell) Glanville, J. E. (Consett) Murray, J D
Anderson, F (Whitehaven) Greenwood A W J. (Heywood) Nally, W
Attewell, H. C Grenfell, D R. Naylor, T. E.
Austin, H Lewis Grey, C F. Neal, H. (Claycross)
Ayles, W. H. Grierson, E. Nicholls, H R. (Stratford)
Ayrton Gould, Mrs B Griffiths, D. (Rother Valley) Noel-Baker, Capt. F E. (Brentford)
Bacon, Miss A Griffiths, Rt. Hon. J. (Llanelly) Oldfield, W. H.
Balfour, A. Griffiths, W. D. (Moss Side) Oliver, G. H.
Barstow, P G Guest, Dr. L Haden Paget, R. T.
Barton, C. Guy, W H Paling, Will T. (Dewsbury)
Battley, J. R Haire, John E (Wycombe) Pargiter, G. A.
Bechervaise, A. E Hale, Leslie Paton, Mrs. F. (Rushcliffe)
Benson, G Hall, Rt. Hon. Glenvil Paton, J. (Norwich)
Beswick, F Hamilton Lieut.-Col. R Pearson, A
Bevan, Rt Hon. A (Ebbw Vale) Hardman, D. R Perrins, W
Bing, G H C Hardy, E. A. Piratin, P.
Binns J Harrison, J. Popplewell, E.
Blackburn, A. R Hastings, Dr Somerville Porter, E. (Warrington)
Blenkinsop, A Henderson, Joseph (Ardwick) Porter, G. (Leeds)
Blyton, W. R. Herbison, Miss M. Price, M. Philips
Bowden, Flg.-Offr H. W. Hewitson, Capt. M Proctor, W. T
Bowles, F. G. (Nuneaton) Hicks, G Pryde, D. J.
Braddock, Mrs. E. M. (L'pl, Exch'ge) Hobson, C R. Randall, H. E
Braddock, T (Mitcham) Holman, P. Ranger, J
Bramall, E A. Horabin, T L Rankin, J
Brook, D (Halifax) House, G Reeves, J.
Brooks, T J. (Rothwell) Hoy, J. Reid, T (Swindon)
Brown, T. J. (Ince) Hudson, J H (Ealing, W) Richards, R.
Bruce, Maj. D W T Hughes, Hector (Aberdeen, N.) Ridealgh, Mrs. M
Burke, W. A. Hughes, H D (W'lverh'pton, W.) Roberts, Goronwy (Caernarvonshire)
Castle, Mrs. B. A. Hynd, H. (Hackney, C.) Robertson, J. J. (Berwick)
Chamberlain, R. A Irvine, A. J (Liverpool) Rogers, G. H. R.
Champion, A J. Irving, W J (Tottenham, N.) Sargood, R.
Chater, D Jeger, G (Winchester) Scollan, T.
Chetwynd, G. R Jeger, Dr. S W. (St. Pancras, S.E.) Scott-Elliot, W
Cluse, W S Jones, P Asterley (Hitchin) Segal, Dr. S.
Cocks, F S Keenan. W Sharp, Granville
Coldrick, W Kenyon, C Shinwell, Rt. Hon. E.
Collick, P Key, C. W. Shurmer, P.
Collindrige, F. King, E M Silverman, J. (Erdington)
Collins, V. J Kinghorn, Sqn.-Ldr. E Skeffington-Lodge, T. C
Colman, Miss G M Kinley, J Skinnard, F. W.
Comyns, Dr L Kirkwood, Rt Hon. D. Smith, C. (Colchester)
Cook, T. F. Lang, G Smith, Ellis (Stoke)
Cooper, Wing-Comdr. G. Lawson, Rt Hon J. J Smith, H. N. (Nottingham, S.)
Corbet, Mrs F. K. (Camb'well, N.W.) Lee, F. (Hulme) Smith, S. H. (Hull, S.W.)
Corlett, Dr J Lee, Miss J. (Cannock) Snow, J. W
Cove, W G Leonard, W. Solley, L. J.
Crawley, A Leslie, J. R Sorensen, R. W
Daggar, G Levy, B. W. Soskice, Sir Frank
Daines, P. Lewis, A. W J (Upton) Sparks, J A
Davies, Edward (Burslem) Lewis, T (Southampton) Stamford, W
Lipson, D L. Steele, T.
Davies, Harold (Leek) Lipton, Lt.-Col. M Stross, Dr. B
Davies, Haydn (St. Pancras, S.W.) Longden, F. Summerskill, Dr. Edith
Davies, S. O. (Merthyr) Lyne, A W Sylvester, G. O
Deer, G McAdam, W. Symonds, A. L
Delargy, H J McEntee, V La T Taylor, H B. (Mansfield)
Dobbie, W McGhee, H G Taylor, R. J (Morpeth)
Dodds, N. N. Mack, J. D Taylor, Dr. S. (Barnet)
Driberg, T E. N. McKay, J (Wallsend) Thomas, D E (Aberdare)
Dumpleton, C W Mackay, R W. G (Hull, N.W.) Thomas, Ivor (Keighley)
Durbin, E F M. McKinlay, A S. Thomas, George (Cardiff)
Dye, S. Maclean, N (Govan) Thorneycroft, Harry (Clayton)
Ede, Rt Hon. J. C McLeavy, F. Thurtle, Ernest
Edelman, M. MacMillan, M K (Western Isles) Tiffany, S.
Edwards, Rt. Hon Sir C. (Bedwellty) Macpherson, T. (Romford) Timmons, J.
Edwards, John (Blackburn) Mainwaring, W H Titterington, M. F
Evans, A (Islington, W.) Mallalieu, J P W. Tolley, L.
Evans, E (Lowestoft) Mann, Mrs J Tomlinson, Rt Hon. G
Evans, John (Ogmore) Manning, Mrs. L. (Epping) Turner-Samuels, M.
Evans, S N. (Wednesbury) Mathers, Rt Hon. G. Ungoed-Thomas, L.
Ewart, R Medland, H. M. Vernon, Maj. W F
Fairhurst, F Mellish, R J Viant, S P
Farthing, W J Middleton, Mrs. L Walker, G. H.
Foot, M M. Mitchison, G. R Wallace, G. D (Chislehurst)
Forman, J C Monslow, W. Warbey, W. N.
Fraser, T (Hamilton) Moody, A S Watkins, T. E.
Freeman, Peter (Newport) Morley, R. Watson, W. M.
Webb, M. (Bradford, C.) Wilkins, W. A. Woodburn, A
Wells, P L. (Faversham) Willey, F. T. (Sundenand) Wyatt, W.
Wells, W T (Walsall) Willey, O. G. (Cleveland) Yates, V F.
West, D. G Williams, D. J. (Neath) Younger, Hon. Kenneth
Westwood, Rt. Hon. J. Williams, J. L. (Kelvingrove) Zilliacus, K.
White, C. F (Derbyshire, W.) Williams, W. R. (Heston)
White, H. (Derbyshire, N.E.) Willis, E. TELLERS FOR THE AYES:
Whiteley, Rt. Hon. W. Wills, Mrs. E. A. Mr. Simmons and
Mr. Richard Adams.
NOES.
Agnew, Cmdr, P. G. Gomme-Duncan, Col. A. Pitman, I. J.
Amory, D. Heathcoat Grimston, R. V. Poole, O. B. S. (Oswestry)
Anderson, Rt. Hn. Sir J. (Scot. Univ.) Harvey, Air-Comdre. A. V. Price-White, Lt.-Col. D.
Assheton, Rt. Hon. R. Head, Brig. A. H. Prior-Palmer, Brig. O
Beamish, Maj. T. V. H. Headlam, Lieut.-Col Rt. Hon. Sir C Raikes, H. V.
Bennett, Sir P. Henderson, John (Cathcart) Reed, Sir S (Aylesbury)
Birch, Nigel Hollis, M. C. Reid, Rt. Hon. J. S. C. (Hillhead)
Boles, Lt.-Col. D. C. (Wells) Hope, Lord J. Roberts, Emrys (Merioneth)
Boothby, R. Hutchison, Lt.-Cm. Clark (E'b'rgh W.) Roberts, Peter (Ecclesall)
Bossom, A. C. Jeffreys, General Sir G Roberts, W. (Cumberland, N.)
Bower, N. Keeling, E. H. Robertson, Sir D. (Streatham)
Bracken, Rt. Hon. Brendan Kerr, Sir J. Graham Robinson, Roland
Bromley-Davenport, Lt.-Col. W Lambert, Hon. G. Ropner, Col. L.
Brown, W. J. (Rugby) Legge-Bourke, Maj. E. A. H. Sanderson, Sir F.
Buchan-Hepburn, P. G. T. Lennox-Boyd, A. T. Savory, Prof. D. L.
Bullock, Capt. M. Linstead, H. N Scott, Lord W.
Butler, Rt. Hon. R. A (S'ffr'n W'ld'r) Lloyd, Maj. Guy (Renfrew, E.) Shephard, S. (Newark)
Byers, Frank Low, A. R. W. Smiles, Lt.-Col. Sir W.
Challen, C MacAndrew, Col. Sir C. Smith, E. P. (Ashford)
Channon, H. McCallum, Maj. D. Snadden, W. M.
Clarke, Col. R. S. Macdonald, Sir P. (I. of Wight) Spearman, A. C. M
Clifton-Brown, Lt.-Col G. McFarlane, C. S. Spence, H. R.
Crosthwaite-Eyre, Col. O. E. Mackeson, Brig. H. R. Stewart, J Henderson (Fife, E.)
Crowder, Capt. John E. McKie, J. H. (Galloway) Stoddart-Scott, Col. M.
Cuthbert, W N. Maclean, F. H. R Strauss, H. G (English Universities)
Darling, Sir W Y. Macmillan, Rt. Hon. Harold (Bromley) Studholme, H. G.
Davidson, Viscountess Macpherson, N. (Dumfries) Taylor, Vice-Adm. E. A. (P'dd't'n, S.)
De la Bère, R. Marlowe, A. A. H. Thorneycroft, G. E. P (Monmouth)
Digby, S. W Marples, A. E. Thorp, Lt.-Col R. A. F
Dodds-Parker, A. D Marsden, Capt. A. Touche, G. C.
Donner, P. W. Marshall, D. (Bodmin) Turton, R. H.
Drayson, G. B. Marshall, S. H. (Sutton) Wadsworth, G.
Drewe, C. Mellor, Sir J. Walker-Smith, D.
Dugdale, Maj. Sir T. (Richmond) Molson, A. H E. Ward, Hon. G. R.
Eccles, D. M. Morris, Hopkin (Carmarthen) Watt, Sir G. S. Harvie
Eden, Rt. Hon. A. Morrison, Maj. J. G. (Salisbury) Wheatley, Col. M J (Dorset, E.)
Elliot, Lieut-Col., Rt. Hon. W Morrison, Rt. Hon. W. S. (Cirencester) White, Sir D. (Fareham)
Fleming, Sqn.-Ldr. E. L Noble, Comdr. A H P Williams, C. (Torquay)
Fletcher, W. (Bury) Nutting, Anthony Willoughby de Eresby, Lord
Fraser, H. C. P. (Stone) Odey, G. W Winterton, Rt. Hon Earl
Fyfe, Rt. Hon. Sir D. P. M. O'Neill, Rt. Hon. Sir H York, C.
Galbraith, Cmdr. T D. Orr-Ewing, I. L
Gammans, L. D. Osborne, C. TELLERS FOR THE NOES:
George, Lady M. Lloyd (Anglesey) Peake, Rt. Hon. O. Major Conant and
Glyn, Sir R. Peto, Brig. C. H. M. Major Ramsay.