HC Deb 18 April 1958 vol 586 cc571-2
Mr. Russell

I beg to move, in page 22,to leave out lines 39 to 44.

This is a drafting Amendment. It means that the definition of the word "party" as laid down in the Bill at present is not particularly necessary. Therefore, I think that it is best to take it out of the Bill. It shortens the Bill by five lines.

Mr. Griffiths

I beg to second the Amendment.

Amendment agreed to.

Mr. Russell

I beg to move, in page 23, line 16, to leave out "optical appliances" and insert "an optical appliance".

This also is a drafting Amendment. I am advised that the words "optical appliances" mean a complete object, such as a monocle or a pair of glasses. The plural might suggest that each lens separately was an optical appliance. The words as at present drafted are apparently inconsistent with the wording of Clause 21, which has been discussed already.

Mr. Griffiths

I beg to second the Amendment.

Mr. Hastings

I should like to ask the hon. Member for Wembley, South (Mr. Russell) to enlarge upon what he has told us. Many of us are compelled to use a number of optical appliances. I have four in my possession at the present time. They were all ordered by the same ophthalmologist. They are for helping my sight on different occasions—when I am outside, for reading ordinary print, and for when I am reading very small print. The pair that I have on at the moment are bi-focals, because I sometimes want to look at you, Mr. Speaker, and sometimes at my notes. I cannot see why an ophthalmic optician or ophthalmologist should not at the same time order more than one type of ophthalmic appliance, which I understand to be the name for glasses.

Mr. Russell

I do not think there is much that I can add to what I have already said. The object of the Amendment is to avoid confusion being caused by the wording in Clause 21. I am certainly advised that the words "ophthalmic appliance" in the singular means a complete object. The hon. Gentleman gave as an example bi-focal spectacles. I take it that that is an ophthalmic appliance and does not mean only one lens or one part of the bi-focal lens. I hope that that explanation goes some way towards reassuring the hon. Gentleman.

Amendment agreed to.