HC Deb 18 June 1952 vol 502 cc1431-45
Mr. Albu

I beg to move, in page 58, line 20, after "of," to insert "coal."

Mr. Speaker

The House might also discuss with this Amendment further Amendments to the Clause dealing with coal and also ballast and sand.

Mr. R. A. Butler

May we take all the Amendments down to the one in page 59, line 38, after "asbestos," to insert "or ballast and sand"?

Mr. Speaker

Yes.

Mr. Gaitskell

I see no objection to discussing these Amendments together, but they are very different.

Mr. Speaker

It may be necessary to put some of them separately afterwards.

Mr. Albu

The object of our Amendments is to bring the concessions in Clause 53 into line with those granted in respect of Clause 52. The concessions in Clause 52 are in respect of percentages for applying capital standards and so forth, whereas in the case of Clause 53 a concession has been granted for a reduction in the amount representing profit on additional output achieved during the chargeable accounting period.

The cases and the arguments for the concessions appear to be the same. There cannot be any reason why the concession granted in one case should not be given in the other. As the Chancellor has now added coal mining to the mines and other wasting asset industries in Clause 52 it would be logical to grant the same concession in the case of Clause 53, so that there is a reduction where output is expanded.

Mr. G. R. Mitchison (Kettering)

I beg to second the Amendment.

In the first place, I see no reason for distinguishing between the two Clauses as regards coal. Though I realise that there are differences in their objects, the principle seems to be the same. In the second place, I shall rely with confidence on the support for the Amendment of the hon. Member for Kidderminster (Mr. Nabarro), who will otherwise find it impossible to reconcile his present attitude with what he said when he last addressed the House.

Sir H. Williams

It might save time if I say that the principle of the Amendment is the same as that of a number of Amendments in my name. I see no reason why certain commodities which are extracted from the soil should have a preference over other commodities. They are all wasting assets.

The sand and ballast industry, with which I am associated, although I am not in it, is using a wasting asset in a number of cases. If, under the pressure of the re-armament programme, it is asked to double its output many firms will be worse off than if they restricted their output. People who are asked by Government Department to increase their output may well lose money, and not the reverse. The cases for coal and for ballast and sand are fundamentally the same. The case is made out by hon. Members opposite is overwhelmingly strong and I support them, both in regard to coal and any other mineral commodity.

Mr. R. A. Butler

I can deal with all these Amendments together by the proposal that I now have to make, which would cover every one of the commodities or extractive products which are referred to in these Amendments. In view of the nature of the proposal I do not wish to discuss the merits of any one of these, because in that way I might be prejudicing their future chances.

In general, however, up till now, the criterion has been—as I said when I intervened shortly earlier—the use of such products in the re-armament programme or their application in some way or another to the balance of payments. But, leaving that on one side, I simply want to say that I am quite sure that the best way to deal with these is to adopt the precedent of the last war Excess Profits Tax. That means that I am not putting down, and have not put down, any Amendment to extend the general scope of Clause 53 to cover other than is included in the side note—concerns producing certain metals, oil, or asbestos.

But I propose that the whole field, including all these products—that is to say, starting with the one referred to by the hon. Member for Edmonton (Mr. Albu), taking in ballast and sand, which was dealt with by the hon. Member for Croydon, East (Sir Herbert Williams), and taking in any other commodity mentioned in the Amendments—should be reviewed before next year's Finance Bill; and in the event of the Treasury finding that there is a compelling case for increasing the output of any of these in the national interest we shall undertake, in next year's Bill, so to amend this Clause as to have retrospective effect in relation to whatever product we decide can legitimately be included.

This will not involve any serious difficulty to industry, because in the event of a decision being reached in their favour—and it will take a little time to investigate all their claims—then the retrospective effect will be to the first date of the operation of the Excess Profits Levy. This will give each industry an opportunity of making out its case before any relief is given, and this will achieve justness in all these cases.

That is the value of the precedent. Under the last war Excess Profits Tax it was governed by Section 31 of the Finance Act, 1941, and a further reference is Section 21 of the Finance Act, 1943. There was a further reference in Section 34 of the Finance Act, 1944. I believe that that is the fairest and best way of making sure that all these products are adequately dealt with, including that mentioned by the hon. Member for Edmonton. If hon. Members will accept that, I think they will find it the fairest way of dealing with the matter.

Mr. Mitchison

The Amendment that he has put down to Clause 52 applies to mineral deposits of a wasting nature of any kind, other than those mentioned in the preceding subsection. It therefore includes a rather wider group of substances than those which are included now, whether by reference in the original text or in the Amendments. Since this is not a matter that calls for amendment at this stage, would the right hon. Gentleman be prepared to tell us now, or to consider later, whether the undertaking he has given could be applied to that rather wider group and not merely be confined to those particular substances which happen to have been mentioned in these amendments?

Mr. Butler

It is true that if we look back to Clause 52 we find a reference to minerals of a wasting nature of any kind other than those mentioned in the previous subsection. It is quite clear that discretion would remain to the Chancellor and the Treasury to review any matter, because anything can be inserted in next year's Finance Bill in this Clause.

Naturally I would not wish to regard the fact that hon. Members have chosen certain products in this list as being entirely exclusive. In the last war, for example, in E.P.T. there was reference to sand, gravel, limestone, sandstone, mica, chalk, asbestos, and so forth. I would not wish to fail to give consideration to any product that might legitimately be considered.

Mr. Gaitskell

I am not very satisfied with the Chancellor's reply. It is the object of the Amendments put down by my hon. Friends to do two things: first, to insert coal as one of the commodities that will obtain the benefit of the concessions granted in this particular Clause, and, secondly, to introduce—which they do by the Amendment to page 60, line 11, which I understand is to be taken with this,—a new subsection (9).

Mr. Butler

I understand that that Amendment was not selected, so I have not referred to it.

Mr. Gaitskell

I understood that you had selected this Amendment, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

I think that the discussion we were having covered that Amendment.

Mr. Butler

I received information from the Chair that it was not selected, Sir. I now understand it has been selected, which means that I have given it no consideration whatever.

Mr. Gaitskell

When the right hon. Gentleman has heard my explanation, he will find it very easy to accept this Amendment. It is designed to introduce into this Clause just the same arrangement as the Chancellor himself has proposed for Clause 52. That is to say, that whereas certain commodities, which he selected, metal, oil, asbestos—and coal if our earlier Amendment is accepted—automatically get the benefit of the concession provided in Clause 53, other minerals, commodities which are derived from the working of sources of mineral deposits, of a wasting nature, can obtain the concession, provided the Treasury agree that the circumstances are appropriate.

We have introduced, it is true, in this case the Treasury as the deciding body instead of the Board of Referees. First, as the hon. and learned Member for Kettering (Mr. Mitchison) and the hon. Member for Islington, East (Mr. E. Fletcher) explained, there was no great enthusiasm on their part for the Board of Referees in this particular case, and, secondly, if one turns back to Clause 52, one finds that it was in any case the Treasury who have to certify that an increase in the output of metal, oil, asbestos, and so on, is essential. The Chancellor really cannot say to us that an increase in the output of coal is not essential. If he agrees it is essential, what is the reason for leaving it out of this Clause?

I cannot understand how the right hon. Gentleman can say that they can give this concession to metal, oil and asbestos because they have to increase their output—because that is the whole purpose of the Clause—but they cannot do it for coal. If there is one commodity of which the increase in output is overwhelmingly important for the balance of payments, it is coal. We know perfectly well that if we can increase our output of coal more rapidly, we can increase our exports to Europe and other parts of the world. We would be easing the whole of the world dollar situation. If that is the case there is no reason why coal should not be included in this Clause.

3.15 a.m.

It really is not good enough to say, "I will have a look at it and perhaps make it retrospective a year hence." This is so obvious that I really cannot understand the attitude of the Chancellor. As for the proposed new subsection, it seems to me that what we propose is very reasonable. All we have done is to try to bring this Clause into line with earlier Clauses in the Bill.

Mr. Nabarro

Is the right hon. Gentleman referring to the whole of the nationalised industry as well as the narrow sector of privately licensed pits to which I referred earlier, or only to the latter?

Mr. Gaitskell

I am referring to the whole industry. I do not exclude the hon. Gentleman's particular interests—the licensed pits. If we can get more coal from them, so much the better. It is obviously desirable that we should get more coal, wherever we can get it, in this country.

What the Amendment does is to grant the benefits of this Clause to other sources of mineral deposits. Though I personally agree with the hon. Member for Croydon, East (Sir H. Williams) that it would have been better to grant these things automatically, it does not matter a great deal in this case because here the Treasury have to certify, in any case, that an increase in the output of these products is essential in the national interest. I hope very much that we shall have the hon. Member's support.

Sir H. Williams

I am grateful for what my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer has said. It is not quite what I should like. I always hate retrospective legislation even when it is to the advantage of my friends. But it is not too bad, so I will not move the Amendment in my name.

Mr. Butler

With the permission of the House, I should like to say that I am sorry that I was unable to give an immediate answer to the Amendment in page 60, line 11. I think that over 1,000 pieces of paper would be necessary to be thoroughly briefed on these two days of debate. I am sorry; I thought that the papers on the Amendments not selected had been removed from my file, but I have now recaptured the suitable document and I am fully informed. The suggestion I have made absolutely meets the point of the Amendment, because we are carrying out the procedure which gives to the Treasury both the time and the opportunity to put into the Clause in next year's Finance Bill the metal or extractive products which we think are worthy of being so included.

Therefore, I do not think the right hon. Gentleman the Member for Leeds, South (Mr. Gaitskell) and his hon. Friends will lose in any way in connection with the products in which they are interested by the procedure which I suggest. In fact it is a major concession covering all the products that satisfy the test. I am not prepared to put coal in——

Mr. Mitchison rose——

Mr. Butler

It is very difficult to make a case when one is interrupted.

Mr. Mitchison

If the right hon. Gentleman will allow me, I should like to ask him one question. I agree with him that this Clause, in every respect but one, conforms entirely with what was said just now. The respect is that if this Amendment is accepted there will be no need for retrospective legislation and the matter will still remain at the discretion of the Treasury. Surely, in the circumstances it is much better to take the opportunity presented by this Amendment and to do exactly what is intended to be done as from now, instead of being forced into retrospective legislation next year.

Mr. Butler

Having understood that that Amendment was not being called, we did not give it the full consideration that it otherwise might have had and I regret that misunderstanding. But the position is not very much altered by that misunderstanding, because I believe that our procedure is better and gives more opportunity to proceed, in the way that

I have suggested, on the basis of precedent in legislation which I have mentioned and of procedure which was successful in the case of the last Excess Profits Tax. I think hon. Members will find that a fairer and a surer way of dealing with their product.

I was coming to the point of coal. The right hon. Gentleman is right. There is no more important commodity than coal. We may well depend for our survival on the extent to which we can export coal for the rest of this year. I take as serious a view of the matter as that. I am not prepared, however, to put coal in here straight away. I want to remind the House that in Clause 55 (4) the National Coal Board have a standard for the Excess Profits Levy which they may find very favourable.

It will be open to the Board to make a claim for increased percentage allowances under Clause 52, if the future life of the United Kingdom coal deposits is short enough to justify such a claim. I believe that the position in respect of coal is not going to be prejudiced, if we read the provisions of the Bill, as a whole. In fact, I think the Bill is helping it. Anybody who knows about the National Coal Board's position and the coal industry, thinks so, too. If it were found, in this question of output allowance, that it would be wise to insert coal, I can only give an assurance that as coal is of such supreme importance, its case would not be prejudiced, but rather helped, by the procedure I suggest.

Question put, "That 'coal' be there inserted in the Bill."

The House divided: Ayes, 189; Noes, 203.

Division No. 176.] AYES [3.23 a.m.
Acland, Sir Richard Braddock, Mrs. Elizabeth Davies, Ernest (Enfield, E.)
Adams, Richard Brockway, A. F. Davies, Harold (Leek)
Albu, A. H. Brook, Dryden (Halifax) Davies, Stephen (Merthyr)
Allen, Scholefield (Crewe) Broughton, Dr. A. D. D. de Freitas, Geoffrey
Attlee, Rt. Hon. C. R. Brown, Rt. Hon George (Belper) Deer, G.
Awbery, S. S. Burton, Miss F. E. Delargy, H. J
Bacon, Mist Alice Butler, Herbert (Hackney, S.) Dodds, N. N.
Baird, J. Callaghan, L. J. Donnelly, D. L.
Barnes, Rt. Hon. A. J Castle, Mrs. B. A. Dugdale, Rt. Hon John (W. Bromwich)
Bence, C. R. Chapman, W. D. Ede, Rt. Hon. J. C
Benn, Wedgwood Chetwynd, G. R. Edwards, John (Brighouse)
Benson, G. Clunie, J. Evans, Albert (Islington S.W.)
Beswick, F. Collick, P. H. Evans, Edward (Lowestoft)
Bing, G. H. C. Corbet, Mrs. Freda Evans, Stanley (Wednesbury)
Blackburn, F. Craddock, George (Bradford, S.) Ewart, R.
Blenkinsop, A. Crossman, R. H. S Fernyhough, E
Blyton, W. R. Daines, P. Field, W. J.
Boardman, H. Dalton, Rt. Hon. H. Finch, H. J
Bottomley, Rt. Hon. A. G. Darling, George (Hillsborough) Fletcher, Eric (Islington, E.)
Bowden, H. W Davies, A. Edward (Stoke, N.) Fool, M. M.
Forman, J. C. MacColl, J. E. Schofield, S. (Barnsley)
Fraser, Thomas (Hamilton) McGovern, J. Shinwell, Rt. Hon E.
Freeman, John (Watford) McInnes, J. Short, E. W.
Freeman, Peter (Newport) McKay, John (Wallsend) Shurmer, P. L. E.
Gaitskell, Rt. Hon. H. T N. McLeavy, F. Silverman, Julius (Erdington)
Gibson, C. W. MacPherson, Malcolm (Stirling) Simmons, C. J. (Brierley Hill)
Glanville, James Mallalieu, J. P. W. (Huddersfield, E.) Slater, J.
Gordon Walker, Rt. Hon. P. C. Mann, Mrs. Jean Snow, J. W.
Greenwood, Anthony (Rossendale) Manuel, A. C. Sorensen, R. W.
Crey, C. F. Marquand, Rt. Hon. H. A. Soskice, Rt. Hon. Sir Frank
Griffiths, David (Rother Valley) Mayhew, C. P. Sparks, J. A.
Griffiths, William (Exchange) Mellish, R. J. Stewart, Michael (Fulham, E.)
Hale, Leslie (Oldham, W.) Mitchison, G. R Swingler, S. T.
Hall, John (Gateshead, W.) Moody, A. S Taylor, John (West Lothian)
Hamilton, W. W. Morley, R. Taylor, Rt. Hon. Robert (Morpeth)
Hargreaves, A. Mort, D. L. Thomas, David (Aberdare)
Hayman, F. H. Moyle, A. Thomas, George (Cardiff)
Healey, Denis (Leeds, S.E.) Mulley, F. W. Thomas, Iorwerth (Rhondda, W.)
Henderson, Rt. Hon. A. (Rowley Regis) Murray, J. D. Ungoed-Thomas, Sir Lynn
Herbison, Miss M. Nally, W. Wallace, H. W.
Hobson, C. R. Noel-Baker, Rt. Hon. P. J Watkins, T. E.
Houghton, Douglas Orbach, M. Weitzman, D.
Hoy, J. H. Oswald, T. Wells, Percy (Faversham)
Hudson, James (Ealing, N.) Padley, W. E. Wells, William (Walsall)
Hughes, Cledwyn (Anglesey) Paling, Will T. (Dewsbury) West, D. G.
Hughes, Emrys (S. Ayrshire) Pannell, Charles Whealley, Rt. Hon. John
Hughes, Hector (Aberdeen, N.) Pargiter, G. A. White, Mrs. Eirene (E. Flint)
Hynd, H. (Accrington) Paton, J. Whiteley, Rt. Hon. W
Hynd, J. B. (Attercliffe) Pearson, A. Wigg, George
Irving, W. J. (Wood Green) Peart, T. F. Wilkins, W. A.
Jay, Rt. Hon. D. P. T. Plummer, Sir Leslie Willey, Frederick (Sunderland, N.)
Jenkins, R. H. (Stechford) Popplewell, E. Willey, Octavius (Cleveland)
Johnson, James (Rugby) Price, Joseph T. (Westhoughton) Williams, Rev. Llywelyn (Abertillery)
Johnston, Douglas (Paisley) Price, Philips (Gloucestershire, W.) Williams, Ronald (Wigan)
Jones, David (Hartlepool) Proctor, W T. Williams, W. R. (Droylsden)
Jones, Frederick Elwyn (West Ham, S.) Rankin, John Williams, W. T. (Hammersmith, S.)
Jones, Jack (Rotherham) Reid, Thomas (Swindon) Wilson, Rt. Hon. Harold (Huyton)
Jones, T. W. Rhodes, H. Winterbottom, Ian (Nottingham, C.)
Keenan, W. Robens, Rt. Hon. A. Wyatt, W. L.
King, Dr. H. M. Roberts, Albert (Normanton) Yates, V. F.
Lee, Frederick (Newton) Roberts, Goronwy (Caernarvonshire) Younger, Rt. Hon. K,
Lever, Leslie (Ardwick) Robinson, Kenneth (St. Pancras, N.)
Lewis, Arthur Rogers, George (Kensington, N.) TELLERS FOR THE AYES:
Lindgren, G. S Ross, William Mr. Hannan and Mr. Royle.
NOES
Allan, R. A. (Paddington, S.) Channon, H. Harvey, Ian (Harrow, E)
Alport, C. J. M. Clarke, Col. Ralph (East Grinstead) Hay, John
Amery, Julian (Preston, N.) Cole, Norman Heald, Sir Lionel
Anstruther-Gray, Major W. J. Conant, Maj. R. J. E. Heath, Edward
Ashton, H. (Chelmsford) Cooper, Sqn. Ldr. Albert Higgs, J. M. C.
Assheton, Rt. Hon. R. (Blackburn, W.) Cooper-Key, E. M. Hill, Dr. Charles (Luton)
Astor, Hon. J. J. (Plymouth, Sutton) Cranborne, Viscount Hill, Mrs. E. (Wythenshawe)
Baldwin, A. E. Crookshank, Capt. Rt. Hon. H. F. C. Hinchingbrooke, Viscount
Banks, Col. C. Crosthwaite-Eyre, Col. O. E. Holland-Martin, C J
Barber, A. P. L. Crouch, R. F. Hollis, M. C.
Barlow, Sir John Crowder, Petre (Ruislip—Northwood) Holt, A. F.
Baxter, A. B. Darling, Sir William (Edinburgh, S.) Hope, Lord John
Beach, Maj. Hicks Deedes, W. F. Hopkinson, Henry
Beamish, Maj. Tufton Digby, S. Wingfield Hornsby-Smith, Miss M P
Bell, Philip (Bolton, E.) Donaldson, Cmdr C. E. McA Horobin, I. M.
Bell, Ronald (Bucks, S.) Doughty, C. J. A. Horsbrugh, Rt. Hon. Florence
Bennett, F. M. (Reading, N.) Drayson, G. B. Howard, Greville (St. Ives)
Birch, Nigel Drewe, C. Hudson, Sir Austin (Lewisham, N.)
Bishop, F. P. Duncan, Capt. J. A. L. Hutchinson, Sir Geoffrey (Ilford, N.)
Black, C. W. Eccles, Rt. Hon. D. M. Hutchison, Lt.-Com. Clark (E'b'rgh, W.)
Boothby, R. J. G Eden, Rt. Hon. A. Hyde, Lt.-Col. H. M.
Bossom, A. C. Fell, A. Johnson, Eric (Blackley)
Boyd-Carpenter, J. A. Fisher, Nigel Jones, A. (Hall Green)
Boyle, Sir Edward Fleetwood-Hesketh, R. F. Kerr, H. W. (Cambridge)
Braine, B. R. Fletcher-Cooke, C Lambert, Hon. G.
Bromley-Davenport, Lt.-Col. W. H. Foster, John Lambton, Viscount
Brooke, Henry (Hampstead) Gage, C. H. Lancaster, Col. C. G.
Brooman-White, R. C. Galbraith, T. G. D. (Hillhead) Legge-Bourke, Maj E. A. H
Browne, Jack (Govan) Garner-Evans, E. H. Legh, P. R. (Petersfield)
Buchan-Hepburn, Rt. Hon. P. G. T Godber, J. B. Lindsay, Martin
Bullard, D. G. Gomme-Duncan, Col. A. Linstead, H. N.
Burden, F. F. A. Gough, C. F. H. Lloyd, Maj. Guy (Renfrew, E.)
Butcher, H. W. Graham, Sir Fergus Lockwood, Lt.-Col. J. C.
Butler, Rt. Hon. R. A. (Saffron Walden) Grimond, J. Longden, Gilbert (Herts, S.W.)
Carr, Robert (Mitcham) Harris, Frederic (Croydon, N.) Lucas, Sir Jocelyn (Portsmouth, S.)
Carson, Hon. E. Harris, Reader (Heston) Lucas, P. B. (Brentford)
Cary, Sir Robert Harrison, Col. Harwood (Eye) Lucas-Tooth, Sir Hugh
McAdden, S. J Pilkington, Capt. R. A Taylor, William (Bradford, N.)
Macdonald, Sir Peter (I. of Wight) Pitman, I. J. Thomas, Rt. Hon. J P. L. (Hereford)
Mackeson, Brig. H. R. Powell, J. Enoch Thomas, P. J. M. (Conway)
McKibbin, A. J. Price, Henry (Lewisham, W) Thompson, Kenneth (Walton)
McKie, J. H. (Galloway) Profumo, J. D. Thompson, Lt.-Cdr. R. (Croydon, W.)
Macmillan, Rt. Harold (Bromley) Raikes, H. V. Thorneycroft, Rt. Hn. Peter (Monmouth)
Macpherson, Maj. Niall (Dumfries) Rayner, Brig. R, Thornton-Kemsley, Col. C. N.
Maitland, Patrick (Lanark) Redmayne, M. Tilney, John
Manningham-Buller, Sir R. E. Remnant, Hon. P. Touche, Sir Gordon
Markham, Major S. F. Roberts, Peter (Heeley) Tweedsmuir, Lady
Marplot, A. E. Rodgers, John (Sevenoaks) Vane W. M. F.
Marshall, Douglas (Bodmin) Roper, Sir Harold Vaughan-Morgan, J K
Marshall, Sir Sidney (Sutton) Ropner, Col. Sir Leonard Vosper, D. F.
Maudling, R. Russell, R. S. Wakefield, Edward (Derbyshire, W.)
Maydon, Lt.-Comdr. S L. C Ryder, Capt. R. E. Wakefield, Sir Wavell (Marylebone)
Medlicott, Brig. F. Salter, Rt. Hon. Sir Arthur Walker-Smith, D. C.
Mellor, Sir John Schofield, Lt.-Col. W. (Rochdale) Ward, Hon. George (Worcester)
Morrison, John (Salisbury) Shepherd, William Ward, Miss I. (Tynemouth)
Mott-Radclyffe, C. E. Simon, J. E. S. (Middlesbrough, W) Waterhouse, Capt Rt. Hon. C
Nabarro, G. D. N. Smiles, Lt.-Col. Sir Walter Webbe, Sir H. (London & Westminster)
Nicholls, Harmer Smithers, Peter (Winchester) Wellwood, W.
Nicolson, Nigel (Bournemouth, E.) Soames, Capt. C. White, Baker (Canterbury)
Nield, Basil (Chester) Speir, R. M. Williams, Gerald (Tonbridge)
Noble, Cmdr. A. H. P Spence, H. R. (Aberdeenshire, W.) Williams, Sir Herbert (Croydon, E.)
Odey, G. W. Stanley, Capt. Hon. Richard Williams, R. Dudley (Exeter)
Ormsby-Gore, Hon. W. D Stevens, G. P. Wills, G.
Orr, Capt. L. P. S. Storey, S. Wilson, Geoffrey (Truro)
Osborne, C. Strauss, Henry (Norwich, S.) Wood, Hon. R
Partridge, E. Studholme, H. G
Peto, Brig. C. H. M Summers, G. S. TELLERS FOR THE NOES:
Peyton, J. W. W. Sutcliffe, H. Mr. Oakshott and Mr. Kaberry.
Pickthorn, K. W. M. Taylor, Charles (Eastbourne)

Amendments made, in page 59, line 22, leave out paragraph (a) and insert: (a) where the body corporate makes an election under paragraph (b) or paragraph (c) of subsection (4) of section thirty-six of this Act, the end of the year specified in the election;

In page 59, leave out lines 29 to 33.—[Mr. R. A. Butler.]

3.30 a.m.

Mr. Speaker

The next Amendment is a Government Amendment in page 62, line 28.

Mr. Gaitskell

On a point of order. Are you not, Mr. Speaker, going to call the Amendment of my hon. Friend the Member for Gloucestershire, South (Mr. Crosland) in page 60, line 11? We have discussed that, but I understood it was to be called.

Mr. Speaker

It was covered in the debate.

Mr. Gaitskell

Yes, but I particularly asked that the Amendments should be

called separately, so that we could vote on them if we wished to.

Mr. Speaker

Very well; but it must be moved.

Mr. E. Fletcher

I beg to move, in page 60, line 11, at the end, to insert: (9) The Treasury may, on an application made in that behalf by a body corporate whose trade or business consists of or includes the working of a source of mineral deposits of a wasting nature, not being a body corporate such as is mentioned in subsection (1) of this section, direct that the provisions of this section shall have effect with regard to the body corporate making such application, and if the Treasury so direct the said provisions shall with the necessary adaptations have effect accordingly with regard to that body corporate.

Mr. Lee

I beg to second the Amendment.

Question put, "That those words be there inserted in the Bill."

The House divided: Ayes, 189; Noes, 203.

Division No. 177.] AYES [3.34 a.m.
Acland, Sir Richard Benson, G Broughton, Dr. A D. D
Adams, Richard Beswick, F. Brown, Rt. Hon. George (Belper)
Albu, A. H. Bing, G. H. C Burton, Miss F. E.
Allen, Scholefield (Crewe) Blackburn, F. Butler, Herbert (Hackney, S.)
Attlee, Rt. Hon. C. R Blenkinsop, A. Callaghan, L. J.
Awbery, S. S. Blyton, W. R. Castle, Mrs. B. A
Bacon, Miss Alice Boardman, H. Chapman, W. D.
Baird, J. Bottomley, Rt. Hon. A. G Chetwynd, G. R
Barnes, Rt. Hon. A J Braddock, Mrs. Elizabeth Clunie, J.
Bence, C. R. Brockway, A. F. Collick, P. H.
Bonn, Wedgwood Brock, Dryden (Halifax) Corbet, Mrs. Freda
Craddock, George (Bradford, S.) Hughes, Hector (Aberdeen, N.) Rankin, John
Crossman, R. H. S. Hynd, H. (Accrington) Reid, Thomas (Swindon)
Dames, P. Hynd, J. B. (Attercliffe) Rhodes, H.
Dalton, Rt. Hon. H. Irving, W. J. (Wood Green) Robens, Rt. Hon. A.
Darling, George (Hillsborough) Jay, Rt. Hon. D. P. T. Roberts, Albert (Normanton)
Davies, A. Edward (Stoke, N.) Jenkins, R. H. (Stechford) Roberts, Goronwy (Caernarvonshire)
Davits, Ernest (Enfield, E.) Johnson, James (Rugby) Rogers, George (Kensington, N.)
Davies, Harold (Leek) Johnston, Douglas (Paisley) Ross, William
Davies, Stephen (Merthyr) Jones, David (Hartlepool) Royle, C.
de Freitas, Geoffrey Jones, Frederick Elwyn (West Ham, S.) Schofield, S. (Barnsley)
Deer, G. Jones, Jack (Rotherham) Shinwell, Rt. Hon. E.
Delargy, H. J. Jones, T. W. (Merioneth) Short, E. W.
Dodds, N. N. Keenan, W. Shurmer, P. L. E
Donnelly, D. L. King, Dr. H. M. Silverman, Julius (Erdington)
Dugdale, Rt. Hon. John (W. Bromwich) Lee, Frederick (Newton) Simmons, C. J (Brierley Hill)
Ede, Rt Hon. J. C. Lever, Leslie (Ardwick) Slater, J.
Edwards, John (Brighouse) Lewis, Arthur Snow, J. W.
Evans, Albert (Islington, S.W.) Lindgren, G. S. Sorensen, R. W.
Evans, Edward (Lowestoft) MacColl, J. E. Soskice, Rt. Hon. Sir Frank
Evans, Stanley (Wednesbury) McGovern, J. Sparks, J. A.
Ewart, R. McInnes, J. Stewart, Michael (Fulham, E.)
Fernyhough, E. McKay, John (Wallsend) Swingler, S. T.
Field, W. J. McLeavy, F. Taylor, John (West Lothian)
Finch, H. J. MacPherson, Malcolm (Stirling) Taylor, Rt. Hon. Robert (Morpeth)
Fletcher, Eric (Islington, E.) Mallalieu, J. P. W. (Huddersfield, E.) Thomas, David (Aberdare)
Foot, M. M. Mann, Mrs. Jean Thomas, George (Cardiff)
Forman, J. C. Manuel, A. C. Thomas, Iorwerth (Rhondda, W.)
Fraser, Thomas (Hamilton) Marquand, Rt. Hon. H. A. Ungoed-Thomas, Sir Lynn
Freeman, John (Watford) Mayhew, C. P. Wallace, H. W.
Freeman, Peter (Newport) Mellish, R. J. Watkins, T. E.
Gaitskell, Rt. Hon. H. T. N. Mitchison, G. R Weitzman, D.
Gibson, C. W. Moody, A. S. Wells, Percy (Faversham)
Glanville, James Morley, R. Wells, William (Walsall)
Gordon Walker, Rt. Hon. P. C. Mort, D. L. West, D. G.
Greenwood, Anthony (Rossendale) Moyle, A. Wheatley, Rt. Hon. John
White, Mrs. Eirene (E. Flint)
Grey, C. F. Mulley, F. W. Whiteley, Rt. Hon. W.
Griffiths, David (Rother Valley) Murray, J. D. Wigg, George
Griffiths, William (Exchange) Nally, W. Wilkins, W. A.
Hale, Leslie (Oldham, W.) Noel-Baker, Rt. Hon. P. J. Willey, Frederick (Sunderland, N.)
Hall, John (Gateshead, W.) Orbach, M. Willey, Octavius (Cleveland)
Hamilton, W. W. Oswald, T. Williams, Rev. Llywelyn (Abertillery)
Hannan, W. Padley, W. E Williams, Ronald (Wigan)
Hargreaves, A. Paling, Will T. (Dewsbury) Williams, W. R. (Droylsden)
Hayman, F. H. Pannell, Charles Williams, W. T. (Hammersmith, S.)
Healey, Denis (Leeds, S.E.) Pargiter, G. A. Wilson, Rt. Hon. Harold (Huyton)
Henderson, Rt. Hon. A. (Rowley Regis) Paton, J. Winterbottom, Ian (Nottingham, C.)
Herbison, Miss M. Pearson, A. Wyatt, W. L.
Hobson, C. R. Peart, T. F. Yates, V. F.
Houghton, Douglas Plummer, Sir Leslie Younger, Rt. Hon. K.
Hoy, J. H. Popplewell, E.
Hudson, James (Ealing, N.) Price, Joseph T. (Westhoughton) TELLERS FOR THE AYES:
Hughes, Cledwyn (Anglesey) Price, Philips (Gloucestershire, W.) Mr. Bowden and
Hughes, Emrys (S. Ayrshire) Proctor, W. T. Mr. Kenneth Robinson.
NOES
Allan, R. A. (Paddington, S.) Browne, Jack (Govan) Eden, Rt. Hon. A.
Alport, C. J. M. Buchan-Hepburn, Rt. Hon. P. G. T Fell, A.
Amery, Julian (Preston, N.) Bullard, D. G. Fisher, Nigel
Anstruther-Gray, Major W. J. Burden, F. F. A. Fleetwood-Hesketh, R. F
Ashton, H. (Chelmsford) Butler, Rt. Hon, R. A. (Saffron Walden) Fletcher-Cooke, C.
Assheton, Rt. Hon. R. (Blackburn, W.) Carr, Robert (Mitcham) Foster, John
Astor, Hon. J. J. (Plymouth, Sutton) Carson, Hon. E. Gage, C. H.
Baldwin, A. E. Cary, Sir Robert Galbraith, T. G. D. (Hillhead)
Banks, Col. C. Channon, H. Garner-Evans, E. H
Barber, A. P. L. Clarke, Col, Ralph (East Grinstead) Godber, J. B.
Barlow, Sir John Cole, Norman Gomme-Duncan, Col. A.
Baxter, A. B. Conant, Maj. R. J. E. Gough, C. F. H.
Beach, Maj. Hicks Cooper, Sqn. Ldr. Albert Graham, Sir Fergus
Beamish, Maj. Tufton Cooper-Key, E. M. Grimond, J.
Bell, Philip (Bolton, E.) Cranborne, Viscount Harris, Frederic (Croydon, N.)
Bell, Ronald (Bucks, S.) Crookshank, Capt. Rt. Hon. H. F. C. Harris, Reader (Heston)
Bennett, F. M. (Reading, N.) Crosthwaite-Eyre, Col. O. E. Harrison, Col. J. H. (Eye)
Birch, Nigel Crouch, R. F. Harvey, Ian (Harrow, E.)
Bishop, F. P. Crowder, Petre (Ruislip—Northwood) Hay, John
Black, C. W. Darling, Sir William (Edinburgh, S.) Heald, Sir Lionel
Boothby, R. J. G Deedes, W. F. Heath, Edward
Bossom, A. C. Digby, S. Wingfield Higgs, J. M. C.
Boyd-Carpenter, J. A. Donaldson, Cmdr. C. E. McA. Hill, Dr. Charles (Luton)
Boyle, Sir Edward Doughty, C. J. A. Hill, Mrs. E. (Wythenshawe)
Braine, B. R. Drayson, G. B. Hinchingbrooke, Viscount
Bromley-Davenport, Lt.-Col. W. H. Drewe, C. Holland-Martin, C. J
Brooke, Henry (Hampstead) Duncan, Capt. J. A. L. Hollis, M. C.
Brooman-White, R. C. Eccles, Rt. Hon. D. M. Holt, A. F.
Hope, Lord John Maydon, Lt.-Comdr S. L. C Speir, R. M.
Hopkinson, Henry Medlicott, Brig. F Spence, H. R. (Aberdeenshire, W.)
Hornsby-Smith, Miss M P Mellor, Sir John Stanley, Capt. Hon. Richard
Horobin, I. M. Morrison, John (Salisbury) Stevens, G P.
Horsbrugh, Rt. Hon. Florence Mott-Radclyffe, C. E Storey, S.
Howard, Greville (St. Ives) Nabarro, G. D. N Strauss, Henry (Norwich, S.)
Hudson, Sir Austin (Lewisham, N.) Nicholls, Harmar Summers, G. S.
Hutchinson, Sir Geoffrey (Ilford, N.) Nicolson, Nigel (Bournemouth E) Sutcliffe, H.
Hutchison, Lt.-Com. Clark (E'b'rgh W.) Nield, Basil (Chester) Taylor, Charles (Eastbourne)
Hyde, Lt.-Col. H. M. Noble, Cmdr. A. H. P Taylor, William (Bradford, N.)
Johnson, Eric (Blackley) Oakshott, H. D. Thomas, Rt. Hon. J. P. L. (Hereford)
Jones, A. (Hall Green) Odey, G. W. Thomas, P. J. M. (Conway)
Kaberry, D. Ormsby-Gore, Hon. W D. Thompson, Kenneth (Walton)
Kerr, H. W. (Cambridge) Orr, Capt. L. P. S. Thompson, Lt.-Cdr. R. (Croydon, W.)
Lambert, G. Osborne, C. Thorneycroft, Rt. Hn. Peter (Monmouth)
Lambton, Viscount Partridge, E. Thornton-Kemsley, Col C. N.
Lancaster, Col. C. G. Peto, Brig. C. H. M Tilney, John
Legge-Bourke, Maj. E. A. H Peyton, J. W. W. Touche, Sir Gordon
Legh, P. R. (Petersfield) Pickthorn, K. W. M. Tweedsmuir, Lady
Lindsay, Martin Pilkington, Capt. R. A. Vane, W. M. F.
Linstead, H. N. Pitman, I. J. Vaughan-Morgan, J. K
Lloyd, Maj. Guy (Renfrew, E.) Powell, J. Enoch Vosper, D. F.
Lockwood, Lt.-Col. J. C. Price, Henry (Lewisham, W.) Wakefield, Edward (Derbyshire, W.)
Longden, Gilbert (Hens, S.W.) Profumo, J. D. Wakefield, Sir Wavell (Marylebone)
Lucas, Sir Jocelyn (Portsmouth, S.) Raikes, H. V. Walker-Smith, D. C.
Lucas, P. B. (Brentford) Rayner, Brig. R Ward, Hon. George (Worcester)
Lucas-Tooth, Sir Hugh Redmayne, M. Ward, Miss I. (Tynemouth)
McAdden, S. J. Remnant, Hon. P. Waterhouse, Capt. Rt. Hon. C.
Macdonald, Sir Peter (I. of Wight) Roberts, Peter (Heeley) Webbe, Sir H. (London & Westminster)
Mackeson, Brig. H. R. Rodgers, John (Sevenoaks) Wellwood, W.
McKibbin, A. J. Roper, Sir Harold White, Baker (Canterbury)
McKie, J. H. (Galloway) Ropner, Col. Sir Leonard Williams, Gerald (Tonbridge)
Macmillan, Rt. Hon. Harold (Bromley) Russell, R. S. Williams, Sir Herbert (Croydon, E.)
Macpherson, Maj. Niall (Dumfries) Ryder, Capt. R. E. D. Williams, R. Dudley (Exeter)
Maitland, Patrick (Lanark) Salter, Rt. Hon. Sir Arthur Wills, G.
Manningham Buller, Sir R. E. Schofield, Lt.-Col. W. (Rochdale) Wilson, Geoffrey (Truro)
Markham, Major S. F. Shepherd, William Wood, Hon. R.
Marples, A. E. Simon, J. E. S. (Middlesbrough, W.)
Marshall, Douglas (Bodmin) Smiles, Lt.-Col. Sir Walter TELLERS FOR THE NOES:
Marshall, Sir Sidney (Sutton) Smithers, Peter (Winchester) Mr. Studholme and Mr. Butcher.
Maudling, R. Soames, Capt. C.