HC Deb 26 July 1949 vol 467 cc2388-9

Lords Amendment: In page 11, line 14, leave out Clause 15.

Mr. Younger

I beg to move, "That this House doth agree with the Lords in the said Amendment."

It might be convenient at the same time to consider the Amendment in line 22, to leave out Clause 16, and the Amendment in line 27 to insert the new Clause A—(Commencement of Part II).

This new Clause replaces the two which it is proposed to delete. The effect is to defer the commencement of Part II of the Bill to a day to be appointed by the Secretary of State, and to leave the transitional provisions to be made by order. The need for this deferment arises from the fact that the Licensing Bill is now very far ahead of the Justices of the Peace Bill. The House will remember that there are provisions relating particularly to non-county boroughs in that Bill, which is now in another place, and which is closely linked with this Bill. This Bill was drafted so as to leave the whole of that problem open for discussion on the other Bill. It was thought that the two Bills might become law at approximately the same time, but that does not appear to be the case any longer, and it would cause great confusion if they were to come into force at different times. Therefore, by having an appointed day under this system, we hope to co-ordinate the two.