§ As amended (in the Standing Committee), considered.
§ 9.58 p.m.
§ Mr. Deputy-Speaker (Sir Charles MacAndrew)Mr. Lennox-Boyd.
§ Mr. George Thomas (Cardiff, West)On a point of order. I understand, Mr. Deputy-Speaker, that you have called the Minister of Transport, but there has been no reply from the Government Front Bench. May we ask what is the next step?
§ Mr. Deputy-SpeakerThe Whip said "Now," and I imagined that there would be someone present to move the Amendment which I have called.
§ Mr. Geoffrey Bing (Hornchurch)In those circumstances, may I beg to move, "That further consideration of the Bill, as amended, be adjourned"?
§ The Lord Privy Seal (Mr. Harry Crookshank)I hope that you will not accept the Motion, Mr. Deputy-Speaker. My right hon. Friend is, of couse, just on his way into the House [HON. MEMBERS: "He is not here now."] He no doubt went hurriedly to get his full notes, and will be back at any moment. I hope, therefore, that the House will—
§ Mr. George Wigg (Dudley)On a point of order—
§ Mr. Deputy-SpeakerA motion was moved that further consideration of the Bill—
§ The Joint Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Transport and Civil Aviation (Mr. Hugh Molson)rose—
§ Mr. Ede (South Shields)On a point of order. My hon. and learned Friend the Member for Hornchurch (Mr. Bing) moved that further consideration be adjourned. Before you could put that to the House, Mr. Deputy-Speaker or even mention it fully, the right hon. Gentleman the Lord Privy Seal intervened. It seems to me that, in view of the fact that the Minister was not here to conduct the debate, the Motion of my hon. and learned Friend at 595 least ought to have been put by you to the House before the Lord Privy Seal intervened.
§ Mr. Deputy-SpeakerI did not accept the Motion. [HON. MEMBERS: "Why?"] Because I am quite within my rights in not accepting it. I was under the impression that when the Lord Privy Seal got up he was going to move the first Amendment to the Bill.
§ Mr. George Jeger (Goole)Since the Lord Privy Seal did not move a Motion, will you, Mr. Deputy-Speaker, please enlighten us on what is the business before the House?
§ Mr. Deputy-SpeakerI did not have time to do so.
§ Mr. MolsonMay I humbly apologise to the House?
§ Mr. Jack Jones (Rotherham)The hon. Gentleman may, but he need not do so.
§ Mr. MolsonI was working in my room on this Bill and I thought that ten o'clock would be the time when we should start discussing it. I am extremely sorry and I apologise for my late appearance.
§ Mr. James Callaghan (Cardiff, South-East)We have never accused the hon. Gentleman of discourtesy. We all know that he is a most courteous Minister but the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation was sitting in the Chamber and left at the end of our previous debate. He made no attempt to come to the Box to move the Amendment to this Bill. That was the complaint.
§ Mr. MolsonI am extremely sorry. It is entirely my fault. This task was delegated to me, and I am entirely at fault in having been unpunctual.
§ Mr. R. R. Stokes (Ipswich)Let us know the reason the Minister ran away.
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cc595-6
- Clause 1.—(CHARGES ON CERTAIN INDE PENDENT PUBLIC SERVICE VEHICLES.) 368 words cc597-602
- Clause 2.—(CHARGES ON INDEPENDENT TRAMWAYS, TROLLEY VEHICLES AND RAILWAYS OF THE NATURE OF A TRAMWAY.) 1,806 words cc602-4
- Clause 6.—(REVISION OF CHARGES BY INDEPENDENT HARBOUR UNDERTAKINGS, ETC.) 962 words cc605-6
- Clause 7.—(POWER OF INDEPENDENT HARBOUR UNDERTAKING TO MAKE CHARGES IN RESPECT OF SEAPLANES, ETC.) 514 words cc606-9
- Clause 8.—(REVOCATION IN PART (WITH SAVINGS) OF DEFENCE REGULATION 56.) 1,143 words cc609-26
- Clause 14.—(REPEALS AND ADAPTATIONS.) 6,370 words