HC Deb 22 March 1948 vol 448 cc2711-2

Lords Amendment: In page 43, line 8, after second "different" to insert "rating."

Motion made, and Question proposed, "That this House doth agree with the Lords in the said Amendment."—[Mr. J. Edwards.]

Mr. J. H. Hare (Woodbridge)

My hon. Friends on this side of the House are very pleased with this Amendment, although it does not go so far as we had hoped. These new lists will come in in different areas at different times, and we should like to ask if we can have an assurance that, so far as possible, the new lists should come into force over the whole country more or less at the same time, although certain areas would work the new lists at a later date. Could the right hon. Gentleman give us an assurance that it is his intention to bring in the new lists everywhere at more or less the same time?

Lieut.-Colonel Elliot

I would like to support my hon. Friend. Can the right hon. Gentleman give us such an assurance?

The Minister of Health (Mr. Aneurin Bevan)

I do not think that assurances are any better for repetition, and, in this case, they were given on the Second Reading, in Committee and on the Third Reading.