HC Deb 27 July 1954 vol 531 c269

Lords Amendment: In page 4, line 30. leave out "and" and insert "or."

Mr. Gammans

I beg to move, "That this House doth agree with the Lords in the said Amendment."

Again, this is an Amendment that was sponsored by the Opposition in another place and is purely drafting. As the Bill was originally worded, under Clause 2 (2, b) the Authority could provide programmes itself if there was a temporary lack of suitable persons able and willing to become and continue as programme contractors on suitable terms and to perform their obligations. This Amendment could scarcely be simpler. By substituting "or" for "and," while making little difference to the meaning, it brings it out beyond any doubt that two alternatives are involved: first, the lack of people to become contractors and, secondly, the lack of people to continue as contractors. I do not imagine that anyone will have any objection to this slight clarification, which does not indicate any change of policy so far as the Bill is concerned.