HC Deb 18 May 1950 vol 475 cc1465-6

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

Mr. Renton

This is the Clause by virtue of which this Bill is to come into operation on a day to be appointed by the Minister. Assuming that the Minister is to be in power for ever, would he be so good as to tell the Committee whether it is his intention to make the appointed day this year, next year, sometime or never?

My second point is that in line 42 there are four words which it seems to me make nonsense and are unnecessary and on Report stage should be deleted. They are the words, "other than this section." Presumably, when the appointed day does come the Minister will want a great deal of this Section to come into force. In the first place with regard to subsection (1), he will want the Act to be constituted in the proper way. With regard to subsection (3) he will want those provisions to come into force, and with regard to subsection (4)—I know it is a negative—but I should have thought he would want that to come into operation on the appointed day with the rest of the Bill. So will he please explain why those words have been inserted?

The Solicitor-General

The words, "other than this section" mean that this Section is to come into force as soon as the Bill is passed. Clause 15 must come into force as soon as the Bill becomes an Act, otherwise the Minister has no power to appoint the day for the other Sections to come into effect at some time in the future.

Mr. Renton

I am much obliged to the right hon. and learned Gentleman; and now may I have an answer from the Minister to my first question?

Mr. Barnes

The hon. Member can be assured that I shall not fix the appointed day until I am satisfied that I have a practical cattle-grid.

Question put, and agreed to.

Clause ordered to stand part of the Bill.