HC Deb 18 November 1948 vol 458 cc623-5

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

Mr. Erroll

Could we have some information on this Clause about the coming into operation of the Bill? I see it is left to the discretion of the Postmaster-General, but it would be of some value to us if he gave us some indication of what he has in mind. There are also different dates for different provisions, and it would be interesting to know into how many sub-divisions this Part of the Bill can be divided in regard to its coming into operation.

6.15 p.m.

Mr. Wilfred Paling

I do not know how many times it may be divided, but this gives us power to bring it into operation by a certain date. Different dates may be appointed for different provisions. What those particular dates will be I cannot say at the present moment.

Mr. C. Williams

This is rather serious. The right hon. Gentleman has not the faintest idea when his Bill will come into force. He should have some knowledge of whether it is an urgent matter and whether it is likely to come into operation soon—within a month, two months, or six months, or if it will be postponed until after the General Election. The right hon. Gentleman, whom I respect very much, should be able to do a little better and give us something which will afford a rough idea when this Bill will be brought into operation. That will bring the whole matter closer to reality. "Some time" is not a Parliamentary answer.

Could we have an answer now? I should not like it to go out from this Committee that the right hon. Gentleman does not know his own Bill. We are entitled to an answer about this date, because the right hon. Gentleman must have some idea. If he cannot answer, he forces us into the position of believing that he is asking for legislation, and yet does not know when it will come into operation. In that case it cannot be of any great reality. I am not pressing this in any hostile way. I see the right hon. Gentleman has now been given some further information. Perhaps he will tell me how urgent this matter is, and whether he will put it into operation this year or in the early part of next year?

Mr. Paling

The only information I can give in regard to this part of the Bill is that the 1904 Act has been operated regularly under the Expiring Laws (Con- tinuance) Act, and it is intended that that process shall finish in 1949. Thus, the date will have to be before that, but exactly when I do not know. It also depends to some extent on the fact that under parts of this Bill we have to make certain regulations before we can declare a date. It is difficult to say exactly when the Bill will come into operation.

Mr. Williams

Do I understand that there will have to be further regulations between now and the time when the Bill comes into operation? I should have thought it better to put into the Bill, the matters on which we desire to legislate rather than depend on regulations.

Clause ordered to stand part of the Bill.