HC Deb 10 November 1954 vol 532 cc1303-5

Motion made, and Question proposed, "That the Clause stand part of the Bill."

Miss Herbison

It has just been decided to amend Clause 8. Will the Joint Under-Secretary of State for Scotland say what effect that Amendment will have on this Clause? As I understand, Clause 10 does for Scotland what Clause 8 does for England and Wales.

The Joint Under-Secretary of State for Scotland (Mr. McNair Snadden)

The hon. Lady is quite right. As she has pointed out, the Secretary of State for Scotland took power, in 1948, to ban the gin trap for catching rabbits. We are now extending this power to cover all animals. Our intention is that the final step to ban the gin trap in Scotland shall be timed to coincide with its banning by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture. In this Clause we have followed the drafting used by our predecessors in 1948. I assure the hon. Lady that the banning of the gin trap will be carried out at the same time by the Secretary of State as by the Minister of Agriculture.

Miss Herbison

But in no part of our Scottish legislation do we have the guarantee which has been given by the Minister of Agriculture today. It is not in any legislation. Is it a fact, as we have just had the assurance of the Joint Under-Secretary, that that will apply?

Mr. Snadden

Perhaps it will satisfy the hon. Lady if I say that the Secretary of State for Scotland is in receipt of the same advice as is the Minister of Agriculture. They set up a committee jointly, and it is quite impossible for the two Ministers to differ on a matter of this sort. I can assure her that we shall act jointly in this.

Clause ordered to stand part of the Bill.

Clauses 11 to 14 ordered to stand part of the Bill.