HC Deb 11 July 1957 vol 573 cc591-3

Lords Amendment: In page 39, line 33, after "relating" insert: to employed persons generally or

Mr. Maudling

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

It might be convenient to consider all the Lords Amendments to page 39 together. They are drafting Amendments.

The Second Schedule, which is one of transitional provisions, deals with the agreements already in effect dealing with employed persons. It is clear that, as drafted at present, it refers to: Any such agreement relating to any class of employed persons"— That is line 33 of the Schedule as it stands, but the Schedule does not refer to agreements relating to employed persons as a whole, and as there are such agreements, that is a defect in the drafting.

The last two Amendments proposed, to line 41 and line 43, are necessary to ensure that in interpreting the existing agreements in the new circumstances appropriate reference should be made both to the Electricity Council and the Generating Board.

Question put and agreed to.

Further Lords Amendments made: In line 35, after "relation" insert: to employed persons generally or In line 36, leave out "persons" and insert: employed persons, as the case may be, In line 41, leave out "references in the agreement" and insert: in the provisions of the agreement, references (however expressed) In line 43, at end insert: or to the Generating Board or to both of them, as the case may require."—[Mr. Maud-ling.] Lords Amendment: In page 42, line 46, at end insert: (3) In this paragraph "obligation" has the same meaning as in section twenty-four of this Act.

Mr. Renton

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

This Amendment was considered when we were considering the Amendment to page 22, line 8, and is consequential.

Question put and agreed to.

Lords Amendment: In page 44, line 52, at end insert:

Applications for consent or authorization made before vesting date 14. The following provisions of this Act, that is to say,—

  1. (a) sections (Further provisions as to placing of electric lines), (Provisions as to 593 construction or extension of generating stations) and (Special provisions as to public inquiries), and
  2. (b) so much of the Third Schedule to this Act as amends section two of the Electric Lighting Act, 1909, shall not have effect in relation to the giving of any consent or authorisation for which application was made before the passing of this Act, or is made thereafter but before the vesting date.

Mr. Maudling

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

This is a consequential Amendment. This afternoon we have agreed to three new Clauses dealing with the placing of electric lines, construction or extension of generating stations and special provisions as to public inquiries. The purpose of this Amendment is to ensure that these new provisions do not take effect until vesting date under the Act. It will be generally agreed that to introduce new machinery into inquiries or negotiations or decisions at present in course of being taken would be a mistake. It would be to the convenience of all concerned to introduce the new provisions with the vesting date of the Act.

Question put and agreed to.