§ The ChairmanI think that this Amendment should be taken with the Amendment in line 21.
§ Mr. NeaveThese are both drafting Amendments and should go together. They simplify the wording of Clause 6 (1, a) and correct a small grammatical error. They make no change at all in the effect of the Clause.
§ Amendment agreed to.
§ Further Amendment made: In page 8, line 21, leave out second "of".—[Mr. Neave.]
§ Mr. NeaveI beg to move, in page 8, line 35, to leave out from the beginning to "and" in line 38 and to insert:
(2) The Board shall give notice in writing to the Admiralty and to the Minister of any decision of the Board to exercise in relation to any vessel any of the powers aforesaid other than the power of lighting and buoying.1371 Hon. Members will recall that the Clause affords protection to the Crown in respect of certain wrecked vessels which the Board may wish to raise. The purpose of the Amendment is to enable the Board to do so in an emergency without first being required to give notice in writing to the Admiralty and to the Minister. There may be a Government interest in any ship sunk in the Haven and it is necessary to have Government consent to raise it, except where it has to be dealt with in an emergency.The Clause as at present drafted requires the Board to give notice in writing to the Admiralty and Minister before it can deal with a wreck even in an emergency. This might obviously cause delay. The Amendment would allow the Board to proceed in an emergency without first giving notice.
§ Amendment agreed to.
§ Clause, as amended, ordered to stand part of the Bill.
§ Clauses 7 to 10 ordered to stand part of the Bill.