§ 10.11 p.m.
§ The Minister of Housing and Local Government (Mr. Harold Macmillan)I beg to move, in page 2, line 17, to leave out "or in respect of."
Perhaps it would be convenient also to take the two following Amendments as they are all part of the same Amendment. I apologise to the House for the necessity to recommit the Bill in connection with these Amendments, but it is for the technical reason that they might throw a charge on public funds and, therefore, they have to be dealt with in Committee. They are part of a series of Amendments to carry out undertakings which I gave in the Standing Committee to try to deal with certain points.
The Amendments are put down in fulfilment of a promise I made in Committee to amend the Clause for the purpose of empowering the Minister and the Secretary of State for Scotland, by regulations made under the Clause, to provide that a local authority shall be put into a position to grant either a pension or a lump sum, whichever might appear to it to be the more beneficial, to the widow oi a deceased contributory employee of the class mentioned in the Amendment or to any other dependant. We thought that it would be valuable to give this right to the authority and that it would be beneficial to those concerned. In conformity with what I then said in Standing Committee, we have put down these Amendments to cover the point.
§ Mr. Glenvil Hall (Colne Valley)I have nothing to add except to convey to the Minister, on behalf of my right hon. and hon. Friends, our gratitude for his having incorporated this provision in the Bill. It fulfils the promise that he made, and we accept it wholeheartedly.
§ Amendment agreed to.
515§ Further Amendments made: In page 2, line 19, leave out "or die."
§
In page 2, line 21, at end, insert:
(d) benefits by way of annual amounts or a lump sum payment in respect of any contributory employee who dies as a result of injuries sustained or disease contracted as aforesaid.—[Mr. H. Macmillan.]
§ Clause, as amended, ordered to stand part of the Bill.