HC Deb 26 June 1952 vol 502 c2525

Question again proposed, "That the Clause stand part of the Bill."

8.6 p.m.

Mr. C. R. Hobson (Keighley)

I know that it is unusual to speak on the Short Title of a Bill, and that it is very difficult to do so when the Bill has not been amended by the Committee in its scope. What I am concerned about is that this Clause is not exactly accurate in its description. It states: This Act may be cited as the Post Office and Telegraph (Money) Act, 1952. That title has been common to all Post Office (Money) Bills that have been before this House. The reason for my suggesting that it is not accurate is that this Bill relates, so far as capital expenditure is concerned, not to telegraphs but to telephones. I am quite aware that in previous legislation telephones were telegraphs, but I am now suggesting that since the Telephone Bill, 1951, telephones are now telephones.

The Deputy-Chairman

I do not see an Amendment down to this Clause.

Mr. Hobson

There is no Amendment down, but I was hoping that perhaps the next time we have a Post Office Bill the word "telephone" could be included, and that was the object of my remarks.

Question put, and agreed to.