HC Deb 16 June 1958 vol 589 cc735-6
Mr. Maudling

I beg to move, in page 1, line 8, to leave out Subject to the provisions of this Act". I suggest that it might be for the convenience of the House if we could take, at the same time, the Amendment in page 1, line 13.

The effect of these Amendments is to carry out an undertaking I gave to the Standing Committee on 25th February last to make clear a point raised by the Opposition to the effect that, in the Bill as it then stood, it was not clear that the Board could carry on on existing sites without authorisation. I said that we would make it quite clear that authorisation was not needed under Clause 1 for sites being worked at the time the Bill came into operation.

The Amendments do this by replacing the general words Subject to the provisions of this Act". at the beginning of Clause 1 (1) by specific references to Clauses 42 and 44. Clause 42 deals with sites that are being worked under licence by private operators, and Clause 44 deals with the transitional provisions to cover the point of sites being worked at the time when this Bill comes into force.

I think, therefore, that these Amendments deal with the point raised by the Opposition and clarify what was, I admit, a little doubtful, perhaps, in the original draft.

Mr. Robens

I rise only to welcome these proposals and to say that they emanated from a contribution made by Mr. Ronald Williams, whose sudden death we so much deplore and whom we still miss so very much.

Amendment agreed to.

Further Amendment made: In page 1, line 13, at end insert: Provided that this subsection shall have effect subject to the provisions of section forty-two of this Act and to the transitional provisions having effect by virtue of section forty-four of this Act.—[Mr. Maudling.]