HC Deb 05 June 1957 vol 571 cc1336-47

Lords Amendment: In page 8, line 40, at end insert Clause A:

A.—(1) The conditions which are mentioned in any of the enactments specified in the next following subsection or which have effect by virtue of any undertaking or agreement entered into in pursuance of any such enactment shall, in so far as they relate to the rent to be charged in respect of any dwelling-house in Scotland, limit that rent, and if imposed before the commencement of this Act shall have effect as if they limited that rent, to an amount equal to the rent which might properly be charged in respect of that dwelling-house by virtue of those conditions together with any sum recoverable in respect thereof by way of repairs increase under the Act of 1954 or by way of 1957 Act increase.

(2) The enactments referred to in the foregoing subsection are—

  1. (a) section two of the Housing (Financial Provisions) Act, 1924;
  2. (b) section three of the Housing (Rural Workers) Act, 1926;
  3. (c) section one hundred and one of the Housing (Scotland) Act, 1950;
  4. (d) sub-paragraph (ii) of paragraph (c) of subsection (1) of section one hundred and fourteen of the Housing (Scotland) Act, 1950.

The Joint Under-Secretary of State for Scotland (Mr. J. Nixon Browne)

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

Mr. Mitchison

On a point of order. In these proceedings are we allowed to speak more than once without the leave of the House?

Mr. Speaker

I am very much obliged to the hon. and learned Member for Kettering (Mr. Mitchison) for raising this point. I did not like interrupting proceedings earlier, but the rule is strictly enforced on these Amendments that there can be only one speech from an hon. Member on each Amendment, except by leave of the House. I did not intervene earlier, although I might have done.

Mr. Mitchison

Further to that point of order. I take it that it is in order for an hon. Member to speak on an Amendment to the Lords Amendment and then on the Lords Amendment itself.

Mr. Speaker

Yes, because they are two separate questions.

Mr. Browne

When the Housing (Repairs and Rents) (Scotland) Act, 1954, was introduced it was made quite clear that the intention of the Government was to include as eligible for repairs increases all controlled houses for which the landlord was responsible for repairs, except, of course, those specified in Section 16 (3) of that Act. Indeed, an Amendment excluding such houses from the repairs increases was rejected. I want to read a short passage from HANSARD of the 13th sitting of the Scottish Standing Committee on the Housing (Repairs and Rents) (Scotland) Act.

My right hon. Friend the Member for Moray and Nairn (Mr. J. Stuart), who was then Secretary of State, said this: I have listened with care to the speeches which have been made and welcome the opportunity of dealing with these two Amendments. The first proposes that no increase in rent should be payable in the case of 'a controlled house which was built with the aid of local and Exchequer subsidies.' There seems no good reason why a house built with the aid of subsidy should be denied any increase at all. He went on to say: The whole object of Part II of the Bill is to permit that, on account of the fact that pre-war rents are no longer adequate to maintain houses in repair, a sufficient increase in rent to achieve that purpose shall be allowed." —[OFFICIAL REPORT, Scottish Standing Committee, 23rd March, 1954; c. 727.] A position of some doubt has now arisen in respect of certain houses built or improved with subsidy or grant and with rents limited by conditions attached thereto. The doubt is whether charging of the increase would constitute a breach of the conditions attaching to the payment of subsidy or grant, which might become no longer payable, or, in certain circumstances, refundable.

The effect of the new Clause is not to widen the range of rent increases, but to clear any doubts regarding the true position of these houses and their continued entitlement to subsidy. As hon. Members opposite will realise, under the Bill as it stands, without this new Clause, there is nothing to prevent proper application of rent increases. The purpose of the "1957 Act increase" is to help towards keeping houses in good repair. The cost of repairs has gone up since the rents of these houses, which reflected the subsidy or grant, were fixed and it would he wrong to leave in doubt whether repairs increases and 1957 Act increases, if applied to the houses under discussion, would result in loss or repayment of the grant.

Mr. James McInnes (Glasgow, Central)

I do not think that the intention of the Lords Amendment is so simple as the Joint Under-Secretary would have us believe. One of the enactments to which it refers is Section 2 of the Housing (Financial Provisions) Act, 1924, which relates to the provision of houses being built by a society, a body of trustees or a company, provided that such a society, body of trustees or company does not trade for profit and has a constitution prohibiting the issue of any shares or loan capital with interest or dividend exceeding the rate prescribed by the Treasury.

Section 25 of the Housing (Repairs and Rents) (Scotland) Act, 1954, deliberately excluded from the provisions of the Rent Acts housing associations, authorised societies, development corporations, the Scottish Special Housing Association and kindred bodies. How, by the provision of the Lords Amendment, can we reincorporate, as it were, all these bodies into the provisions of the Rent Bill? I am of course aware that Section 2 of the Housing (Financial Provisions) Act, 1924, also refers to Sections 2 and 3 of the Housing, &c. Act, 1923, and Section 3 again deals with these bodies, societies and housing associations and similar bodies. But Section 2 of the Housing, &c. Act, 1923, refers to the powers which are vested in local authorities in granting subsidies to private contractors who were prepared to promote the building of houses at that time.

We have had experience in Scotland of a body known as Western Heritable Investment Company which, under the provisions of the 1924 Act, provided houses for rent. That organisation, as the Joint Under-Secretary is well aware, has been in violation of all the regulations and agreements relating to subsidies, because as it has obtained vacant possession of houses it has sold them.

I know that the Joint Under-Secretary will tell me that the matter referred to in the latter part of my observations was decided by the court of session, but I want to know why, under Section 25 of the Housing (Repairs and Rents) (Scotland) Act, we excluded these organisations from the operations of the Rent Acts and why, by this Amendment, we are reincorporating them. I want the Joint Under-Secretary's views about the position of the Western Heritable Trust.

7.30 p.m.

Mr. Thomas Fraser (Hamilton)

Those of my hon. Friends who have looked at the Amendment regard it as most objectionable. We have been looking through the various Statutes referred to in subsection (2) to see what houses the Joint Under-Secretary is proposing to include in the provisions of the Bill. First, we have the category referred to in paragraph (a)—the 1924 Act category. Those are houses in respect of which a subsidy of £9, or £12 10s. if the house happens to be situated in an agricultural parish, is payable for a period of forty years. That subsidy is being paid now, and it will continue to be paid for some time to come.

A little while ago the Joint Under-Secretary made a speech reiterating that subsidies should be paid only to people who needed them, but these subsidies are paid to the owners, and they are being paid for houses in respect of which the local authorities have decided what are the reasonable rents. The local authorities having so decided, the Joint Under-Secretary is proposing, in the Amendment, that the rents approved by the local authorities will now be increased by 25 per cent., for no other reason than that the houses are in a fit state for habitation. Without any further expenditure on the part of the owners, the houses having been built with a subsidy and still attracting a subsidy, the tenants have to pay 25 per cent. more rent than is considered to be fair by the local authorities, merely because the houses happen to be fit for human habitation.

Paragraph (b) refers to houses covered by Section 3 of the Housing (Rural Workers) Act, 1926, which are houses reconstructed or improved which have earned a grant up to two-thirds of the cost, with a limit of £100 for each dwelling, again, I believe, with local authority control of the rent.

Paragraph (c) covers houses dealt with in Section 101 of the Housing (Scotland) Act, 1950, which are houses built in replacement of unfit houses, for agricultural workers. A very substantial grant is given in this case—£240 for a three-apartment house and £300 for a four-apartment house—with a measure of control over the use to which the houses will be put for a period of forty years. So long as an agricultural worker occupies one of these houses the Amendment would not apply, but as we know full well, a great many of those houses are no longer occupied by agricultural workers. As and when such a house ceases to be so occupied, and it becomes occupied by someone else, the rent is fixed by the local authority.

That rent might have been fixed last week by the local authority—or even this very day. The local authority may have determined a reasonable rent for the house—a house towards the cost of which a grant of £300 had been made to the owner from public funds because the house was needed for a farm worker. Now, however, since the farmer has let the house to somebody other than a farm worker, the owner is to be permitted immediately to demand an increase of 25 per cent. if the house is fit for human habitation. The House cannot tolerate that kind of provision.

Lastly we have the fourth category, in paragraph (d)—houses which have been improved by means of improvement grants of 50 per cent. of the cost of the improvement, the money coming from public funds. The owner of such a house will have been entitled to increase the rent by 8 per cent. of his expenditure, but by including such a house in this provision it would appear that the owner, having got this 8 per cent. increase, will now be quite certain of being able to claim an automatic increase of 25 per cent. if the house is fit for habitation.

Further, if he does any worth while repairs at all he will be able to claim a 50 per cent. rent increase—although the house is in a fit state only because of the amount of grant the owner has already received from public funds. This seems to me to be a monstrous proposition, and unless the Joint Under-Secretary can give a much more adequate justification for its inclusion in the Bill I hope that my hon. Friends will resist the Amendment.

Mr. J. N. Browne

What the hon. Member for Glasgow, Central (Mr. McInnes) said about non-profit-making companies and the like is, I am advised, not really relevant. It is not correct to say that these organisations are excluded. The Western Heritable Trust and other similar bodies to which the hon. Member referred, and which are referred to in the Statutes, are entitled to a repairs increase or a 1957 Act increase under the Bill in any case. I would draw the hon. Member's attention to yet another quotation from a speech made by my right hon. Friend the Member for Moray and Nairn (Mr. J. Stuart) during the Committee stage of the Housing (Repairs and Rents) (Scotland) Bill, when he said: The Western Heritable houses, to which reference has been made in connection with the second Amendment we are discussing, were built in the 1920s, and they are older, generally speaking, than the local authority houses."—[OFFICIAL REPORT, Scottish Standing Committee, 23rd March, 1954, c. 728.] The point whether or not the Western Heritable Trust and other similar houses should be entitled to the 1957 Act increase or the repairs increase has already been dealt with under the 1954 Act, when it was discussed by this House. The question before the House today is whether, if the increase is applied for and is granted, the firm concerned would be entitled to have this grant continued, or would lose it, or would have to repay it if it were given in the form of a lump sum.

The hon. Member for Hamilton (Mr. T. Fraser) went through all the categories of houses mentioned in paragraphs (a), (b), (c) and (d) separately, and sought almost to raise points which would have been more properly raised in connection with the proceedings on the 1954 Act. Paragraph (a) involves about 8,000 houses which were all built before the war. They receive £9 a year for forty years on condition that the rents are limited to those normally charged by local authorities for working-class houses built before 3rd August. 1914—and the Act finished in 1935

Mr. T. Fraser

The fact that the Act finished in 1935 does not answer the question. What were the rents, when were they adjusted, and can they be further adjusted from time to time?

Mr. Browne

I am trying to make the point that when we enacted in 1954 we excluded under Section 16 (3) certain houses from the repairs increase. The houses where the rent was fixed by the landlord after 1st September, 1939, which was subject to rent tribunal after 1st September, 1949, were excluded. The houses which received the improvement grant fixed after 1949 were excluded. Local authority houses sold after 1954 were excluded. Agricultural houses sold after 1952 were excluded. What the hon. Member now says is that houses built prior to 1952 should have been excluded. My point is that—I do not know really, Mr. Speaker, whether this is in order—

Mr. Fraser

Surely it is in order.

Mr. Browne

These houses were specifically excluded in 1954 and all this new Clause is doing is covering the question of grants and not the question of repairs increase; not the question of their entitlement to repairs increase; but only the question whether if they apply for a repairs increase are they in danger of losing their grant—

Mr. Fraser

No—

Mr. Browne

If I cannot satisfy the hon. Member with that. I cannot do any better.

Mr. Fraser

I am not asking if they are going to lose their grant. I have read subsection (1). If the hon. Gentleman looks at the matter on the lines of subsection (1) of the new Clause, he will see that the whole purpose of the Clause is to ensure that these houses set out in subsection (2) may qualify for the 1954 Act or the 1957 Act increases. It is about that I am quarrelling with him.

Mr. Browne

Yes, but it makes it clear that they can apply for the improvement grant without losing their subsidy. What is not clear is, if they apply for a grant as they are entitled to do, whether or not they would lose their subsidy.—

Mr. Fraser

It is quite impossible—

Mr. Speaker

Order. We cannot discuss it in this conversational way. If the hon. Member has finished his speech, I will put the Question. The Question is, "That this House doth agree with the Lords in the said Amendment."

Hon. Members

No.

Mr. Speaker

Does any hon. Member wish to speak to this matter?

Mr. McInnes

We were waiting to hear the Question.

Question put, That this House doth agree with the Lords in the said Amendment:—

The House proceeded to a Division—

Colonel J. H. HARRISON and Mr. BROOMAN-WHITE were appointed Tellers for the Ayes, and Mr. HOLMES and Mr. J. T. PRICE for the Noes, but it appeared that a Member who had not been appointed had told for the Noes.

Division No. 137.] AYES [7.50 p.m.
Agnew, Sir Peter Davidson, Viscountess Hesketh, R. F.
Aitken, W. T. D'Avigdor-Goidsmid, Sir Henry Hicks-Beach, Maj. W. W.
Allan, R. A. (Paddington, S.) Deedes, W. F. Hill, Rt. Hon. Charles (Luton)
Alport, C. J. M. Digby, Simon Wingfield Hill, Mrs. E. (Wythenshawe)
Amery, Julian (Preston, N.) Dodds-Parker, A. D. Hill, John (S. Norfolk)
Anstruther-Gray, Major Sir William Donaldson, Cmdr. C. E. McA. Hirst, Geoffrey
Arbuthnot, John Doughty, C. J. A. Hobson, John (Warwick & Leam'gt'n)
Armstrong, C. W. Drayson, G. B. Holland-Martin, C. J.
Ashton, H. du Cann, E. D. L. Holt, A. F.
Astor, Hon. J. J. Dugdale, Rt. Hn. Sir T. (Richmond) Hope, Lord John
Atkins, H. E. Duthle, W. S. Hornby, R. P.
Baldock, Lt.-Cmdr. J. M. Eccles, Rt. Hon. Sir David Hornsby-Smith, Miss M. P.
Baldwin, A. E. Eden, J. B. (Bournemouth, West) Horobin, Sir Ian
Balniel, Lord Elliot, Rt. Hon. W. E. (Kelvingrove) Horsbrugh, Rt. Hon. Dame Florence
Barber, Anthony Elliott, R. W.(N'castie upon Tyne, N.) Howard, Gerald (Cambridgeshire)
Barlow, Sir John Emmet, Hon. Mrs. Evelyn Howard, Hon. Greville (St. Ives)
Barter, John Errington, Sir Eric Howard, John (Test)
Baxter, Sir Beverley Erroll, F. J. Hudson, W. R. A. (Hull, N.)
Beamish, Maj. Tufton Farey-Jones, F. W. Hughes Hallett, Vice-Admiral J.
Bell, Philip (Bolton, E.) Finlay, Graeme Hughes-Young, M. H. C.
Bell, Ronald (Bucks, S.) Fisher, Nigel Hulbert, Sir Norman
Bennett, F. M. (Torquay) Fletcher-Cooke, C. Hurd, A. R.
Bennett, Dr. Reginald Forrest, G. Hutchison, Sir Ian Clarke(E'b'gh, W.)
Bevins, J. R. (Toxteth) Fort, R. Hutchison, Sir James (Scotstoun)
Bidgood, J. C. Foster, John Hutchison, A. M. C. (Edinburgh, S.)
Biggs-Davison, J. A. Fraser, Hon. Hugh (Stone) Hylton-Foster, Rt. Hon. Sir Harry
Birch, Rt. Hon. Nigel Fraser, Sir Ian (M'cmbe & Lonsdale) Iremonger, T. L.
Bishop, F. P. Freeth, Denzil Irvine, Bryant Godman (Rye)
Black, C. W. Galbraith, Hon. T. G. D. Jenkins, Robert (Dulwich)
Body, R. F. Gammans, Lady Jennings, J. C. (Burton)
Boothby, Sir Robert Garner-Evans, E. H. Jennings, Sir Roland (Hallam)
Bossom, Sir Alfred Gibson-Watt, D. Johnson, Dr. Donald (Carlisle)
Bowen, E. R. (Cardigan) Glover, D. Johnson, Eric (Blackley)
Boyd-Carpenter, Rt. Hon. J. A. Godber, J. B. Johnson, Howard (Kemptown)
Braine, B. R. Comme-Duncan, Col. Sir Alan Jones, Rt. Hon. Aubrey (Hall Green)
Braithwaite, Sir Albert (Harrow, W.) Goodhart, Philip Joseph, Sir Keith
Bromley-Davenport, Lt.-Col. W. H. Cough, C. F. H. Joynson-Hicks, Hon. Sir Lancelot
Brooke, Rt. Hon. Henry Gower, H. R. Kaberry, D.
Browne, J. Nixon (Craigton) Graham, Sir Fergus Keegan, D.
Bryan, P. Grant, W. (Woodside) Kerby, Capt. H. B.
Bullus, Wing Commander E. E. Grant-Ferris, Wg Cdr. R. (Nantwich) Kerr, H. W.
Burden, F. F. A. Green, A. Kershaw, J. A.
Butoher, Sir Herbert Gresham Cooke, R. Kimball, M.
Butler, Rt. Hn. R. A.(Saffron Walden) Grimston, Hon. John (St. Albans) Kirk, P. M.
Campbell, Sir David Grimston, Sir Robert (Westbury) Lambton, Viscount
Carr, Robert Grosvenor, Lt.-Col. R. G. Lancaster, Col. C. G.
Cary, Sir Robert Gurden, Harold Langford-Holt, J. A.
Chichester-Clark, R. Hall, John (Wycombe) Leather, E. H. C.
Clarke, Brig. Terence (Portsmth, W.) Hare, Rt. Hon. J. H. Leavey, J. A.
Cole, Norman Harris, Frederic (Croydon, N.W.) Leburn, W. G.
Conant, Maj. Sir Roger Harris, Reader (Heston) Legge-Bourke, Maj. E. A. H.
Cooke, Robert G. Harrison, A. B. C. (Maldon) Legh, Hon. Peter (Petersffeld)
Cooper, A. E. Harvey, Air Cdre. A. V. (Macolesfd) Lindsay, Hon. James (Devon, N.)
Cordeaux, Lt.-Col. J. K. Harvey, Ian (Harrow, E.) Linstead, Sir H. N.
Corfield, Capt. F. V. Harvey, John (Walthamstow, E.) Llewellyn, D. T.
Craddock, Beresford (Spelthorne) Harvie-Watt, Sir George Lloyd, Rt. Hon. G. (Sutton Coldfield)
Crowder, Sir John (Finohley) Hay, John Lloyd, Maj. Sir Guy (Renfrew, E.)
Crowder, Petre (Ruislip—Northwood) Heald, Rt. Hon. Sir Lionel Longden, Gilbert
Cunningham, Knox Heath, Rt. Hon. E. R. G. Low, Rt. Hon. A. R. W.
Currie, G. B. H. Henderson, John (Cathcart) Lucas, Sir Jocelyn (Portsmouth, S.)
Dance, J. C. G. Henderson-Stewart, Sir James Lucas, P. B. (Brentford & Chiswick)

Whereupon, Mr. SPEAKER directed the House to proceed again to a Division:—

The House proceeded again to a Division—

Colonel J. H. HARRISON and Mr. BROOMAN-WHITE were appointed Tellers for the Ayes and Mr. HOLMES and Mr. JOHN TAYLOR for the Noes, but it appeared that the Division bells had not been rung.

Whereupon Mr. SPEAKER directed the House to proceed again to a Division.

The House divided: Ayes 309, Noes 239.

Lucas-Tooth, Sir Hugh Page, R. G. Steward, Harold (Stockport, S.)
McAdden, S. J. Pannell, N. A. (Kirkdale) Steward, Sir William (Woolwich, W.)
Macdonald, Sir Peter Partridge, E. Stoddart-Scott, Col. M.
McKibbin, A. J. Peyton, J. W. W. Storey, S.
Mackie, J. H. (Galloway) Pickthorn, K. W. M. Stuart, Rt. Hon. James (Moray)
McLaughlin, Mrs. P. Pike, Miss Mervyn Studholme, Sir Henry
Maclay, Rt. Hon. John Pilkington, Capt. R. A. Summers, Sir Spencer
Maclean, Fitzroy (Lancaster) Pitman, I. J. Sumner, W. D. M. (Orpington)
McLean, Neil (Inverness) Pitt, Miss E. M. Taylor, Sir Charles (Eastbourne)
Macleod, Rt. Hn. Iain (Enfield, W.) Pott, H. P. Taylor, William (Bradford, N.)
Macmillan, Rt. Hn. Harold (Bromley) Powell, J. Enoch Teeling, W.
Macmillan, Maurice (Halifax) Price, David (Eastleigh) Temple, John M.
Macpherson, Niall (Dumfries) Price, Henry (Lewisham, W.) Thomas, Leslie (Canterbury)
Maddan, Martin Profumo, J. D. Thomas, P. J. M. (Conway)
Maitland, Cdr. J. F. W. (Horncastle) Raikes, Sir Victor Thompson, Kenneth (Walton)
Maitland, Hon. Patrick (Lanark) Ramsden, J. E. Thompson, Lt.-Cdr. R.(Croydon, S.)
Manningham-Buller, Rt. Hn. Sir R. Rawlinson, Peter Thornton-Kemsley, C. N.
Markham, Major Sir Frank Redmayne, M. Tiley, A. (Bradford, W.)
Marlowe, A. A. H. Rees-Davies, W. R. Turner, H. F. L.
Marples, Rt. Hon. A. E. Remnant, Hon. P. Turton, Rt. Hon. R. H.
Marshall, Douglas Renton, D. L. M. Tweedsmuir, Lady
Mathew, R. Ridsdale, J. E. Vane, W. M. F.
Maude, Angus Rippon, A. G. F. Vaughan-Morgan, J. K.
Maudling, Rt. Hon, R. Robertson, Sir David Viokers, Miss Joan
Mawby, R. L. Robinson, Sir Roland (Blackpool, S.) Wakefield, Edward (Derbyshire, W.)
Medlicott, Sir Frank Robson-Brown, W. Wakefield, Sir Wavell (St. M'lebone)
Milligan, Rt. Hon. W. R. Rodgers, John (Sevenoaks) Wall, Major Patrick
Molson, Rt. Hon. Hugh Roper, Sir Harold Ward, Rt. Hon. G. R. (Worcester)
Moore, Sir Thomas Ropner, Col. Sir Leonard Ward, Dame Irene (Tynemouth)
Morrison, John (Salisbury) Russell, R. S. Waterhouse, Capt. Rt. Hon. C.
Mott-Radolyffe, Sir Charles Schofield, Lt.-Col. W. Watkinson, Rt. Hon. Harold
Nabarro, G. D. N. Scott-Miller, Cmdr. R. Webbe, Sir H.
Nairn, D. L. S. Sharpies, R. C. Whitelaw, W. S. I.
Neave, Airey Shepherd, William Williams, Paul (Sunderland, S.)
Nicholls, Harmar Simon, J. E. S, (Middlesbrough, W.) Williams, R. Dudley (Exeter)
Nicholson, Godfrey (Farnham) Smlthers, Peter (Winchester) Wills, G. (Bridgwater)
Nicolson, N. (B'n'nVth, E. & Chr'ch) Smyth, Brig. Sir John (Norwood) Wood, Hon. R.
Oakshott, H. D. Soames, Christopher Woollam, John Victor
O'Neill, Hn. Phelim (Co. Antrim, N.) Speir, R. M. Yates, William (The Wrekin)
Ormsby-Gore, Rt. Hon. W. D. Spence, H. R. (Aberdeen, W.)
Orr, Capt. L. P. S. Spens, Rt. Hn. Sir P. (Kens'gt'n, S.) TELLERS FOR THE AYES:
Orr-Ewing, Sir Ian (Weston-S-Mare) Stanley, Capt. Hon. Richard Colonel J. H. Harrison and
Osborne, C. Stevens, Geoffrey Mr. Brooman-White
NOES
Ainsley, J. W. Collins, V. J.(Shoreditch & Finsbury) Griffiths, William (Exchange)
Allaun, Frank (Salford, E.) Corbet, Mrs. Freda Hale, Leslie
Allen, Arthur (Bosworth) Cove, W. G. Hamilton, W. W.
Allen, Scholefield (Crewe) Craddock, George (Bradford, S.) Hannan, W.
Awbery, S. S. Cronin, J. D. Hastings, S.
Bacon, Miss Alice Cullen, Mrs. A. Hayman, F. H.
Baird, J. Dalton, Rt. Hon. H. Healey, Denis
Balfour, A. Darling, George (Hillsborough) Herbison, Miss M.
Bellenger, Rt. Hon. F. J. Davies, Ernest (Enfield, E.) Hewitson, Capt. M.
Bence, C. R. (Dunbartonshire, E.) Davies, Harold (Leek) Hobson, C. R. (Keighley)
Benn, Hn. Wedgwood (Bristol, S.E.) Davies, Stephen (Merthyr) Howell, Denis (All Saints)
Benson, G. Deer, G. Hoy, J. H.
Beswick, Frank Delargy, H. J. Hubbard, T. F.
Blackburn, F. Dodds, N. N. Hughes, Cledwyn (Anglesey)
Blenkinsop, A. Donnelly, D. L. Hughes, Emrys (S. Ayrshire)
Blyton, W. R. Dugdale, Rt. Hn. John(W. Brmwch) Hughes, Hector (Aberdeen, N.)
Boardman, H. Dye, S. Hunter, A. E.
Bowden, H. W. (Leicester, S.W.) Ede, Rt. Hon. J. C. Hynd, H. (Accrington)
Bowles, F. G. Edelman, M. Hynd, J. B. (Attercliffe)
Boyd, T. C. Edwards, Rt. Hon. John (Brighouse) Irving, Sydney (Dartford)
Braddock, Mrs. Elizabeth Edwards, Rt. Hon. Ness (Caerphilly) Isaacs, Rt. Hon. G. A.
Brock way, A. F. Edwards, Robert (Bilston) Janner, B.
Broughton, Dr. A. D. D. Edwards, W. J. (Stepney) Jeger, Mrs. Lena(Holbn & St.Pncs, S.)
Brown, Rt. Hon. George (Belper) Evans, Albert (Islington, S.W.) Jenkins, Roy (Stechford)
Brown, Thomas (Ince) Evans, Edward (Lowestoft) Johnson, James (Rugby)
Burke, W. A. Fernyhough, E. Johnston, Douglas (Paisley)
Burton, Miss F. E. Fienburgh, W. Jones, Rt. Hon. A. Creech (Wakefield)
Butler, Herbert (Hackney, C.) Finch, H. J. Jones, David (The Hartlepools)
Butler, Mrs. Joyce (Wood Green) Forman, J. C. Jones, J. Idwal (Wrexham)
Callaghan, L. J. Fraser, Thomas (Hamilton) Jones, T. W. (Merloneth)
Carmichael, J. Gibson, C. W. Kenyon, C.
Champion, A. J. Gordon Walker, Rt. Hon. P. C. Key, Rt. Hon. C. W.
Chapman, W. D. Greenwood, Anthony King, Dr. H. M.
Chetwynd, G. R. Grenfell, Rt. Hon. D. R. Lawson, G. M.
Clunie. J. Grey, C. F. Lee, Frederick (Newton)
Coldrick, W. Griffiths, David (Rother Valley) Lee, Miss Jennie (Cannock)
Collick, P, H. (Birkenhead) Griffiths, Rt. Hon. James (Llanelly) Lever, Harold (Cheetham)
Lewis, Arthur Pargiter, G. A. Stones, W. (Consett)
Lindgren, G. S. Parker, J. Strachey, Rt. Hon, J.
Lipton, Marcus Parkin, B. T. Strauss, Rt. Hon. George (Vauxhall)
Logan, D. G. Paton, John Stross, Dr.Barnett(Stoke-on-Trent, C.)
Mabon, Dr. J. Dickson Pearson, A. Summerskill, Rt. Hon. E.
MacColl, J. E. Pentland, N. Swingter, S. T.
MacDermot, Niall Plummer, Sir Leslie Sylvester, G. O.
McGhee, H. G. Popplewell, E. Taylor, Bernard (Mansfield)
McGovern, J. Prentice, R. E. Thomas, George (Cardiff)
McInnes, J. Price, J. T. (Westhoughton) Thomas, Iorwerth (Rhondda, W.)
McKay, John (Wallsend) Price, Philips (Gloucestershire, W.) Thomson, George (Dundee, E.)
MacMillan, M. K. (Western Isles) Probert, A. R. Thornton, E.
MacPherson, Malcolm (Stirling) Proctor, W. T. Tomney, F.
Mahon, Simon Pryde, D. J. Ungoed-Thomas, Sir Lynn
Mainwaring, W. H. Pursey, Cmdr. H. Usborne, H. C.
Mallalieu, J. P. W. (Huddersfd, E.) Randall, H. E. Viant, S. P.
Mann, Mrs. Jean Rankin, John Warbey, W. N.
Mason, Roy Redhead, E. C. Watkins, T. E.
Mayhew, C. P. Reeves, J. Weitzman, D.
Mellish, R. J. Reid, William Wells, Percy (Faversham)
Messer, Sir F. Rhodes, H. Wells, William (Walsall, N.)
Mikardo, Ian Robens, Rt. Hon. A. West, D. G.
Mitchison, G. R. Roberts, Albert (Normanton) Wheeldon, W. E.
Monslow, W. Roberts, Goronwy (Caernarvon) White, Mrs. Eirene (E. Flint)
Moody, A. S. Robinson, Kenneth (St. Pancras, N.) White, Henry (Derbyshire, N. E.)
Morris, Percy (Swansea, W.) Rogers, George (Kensington, N.) Wigg, George
Morrison, Rt. Hn. Herbert (Lewis'm,S.) Ross, William Wilcock, Group Capt. C. A. B.
Mort, D. L. Royle, C. Wilkins, W. A.
Moss, R. Shinwell, Rt. Hon. E. Williams, David (Neath)
Moyle, A. Short, E. W. Williams, Ronald (Wigan)
Mulley, F. W. Silverman, Julius (Aston) Williams, Rt. Hon. T. (Don Valley)
Noel-Baker, Francis (Swindon) Silverman, Sydney (Nelson) Williams, W. R. (Openshaw)
Oliver, G. H. Simmons, C. J. (Brierley Hill) Williams, W. T. (Barons Court)
Oram, A. E. Slater, Mrs. H. (Stoke, N.) Willis, Eustace (Edinburgh, E.)
Orbach, M. Slater, J. (Sedgefield) Wilson, Rt. Hon. Harold (Huyton)
Oswald, T. Smith, Ellis (Stoke, S.) Winterbottom, Richard
Owen, W. J. Snow, J. W. Woodburn, Rt. Hon. A.
Padley, W. E. Sorensen, R. W. Woof, R. E.
Paget, R. T. Soskice, Rt. Hon. Sir Frank Yates, V. (Ladywood)
Paling Rt. Hon. W. (Dearne Valley) Sparks, J. A. Younger, Rt. Hon. K.
Paling, Will T. (Dewsbury) Steele, T. Zilliacus, K.
Palmer, A. M. F. Stewart, Michael (Fulham)
Panned, Charles (Leeds, W.) Stonehouse, John TELLERS FOR THE NOES:
Mr. Holmes and Mr. John Taylor.