HC Deb 06 November 1958 vol 594 cc1118-9

3.49 p.m.

The Economic Secretary to the Treasury (Mr. F. J. Erroll)

I beg to move, That an humble Address be presented to Her Majesty under section eight of the Supplies and Services (Transitional Powers) Act, 1945, praying that the said Act, which would otherwise expire on the tenth day of December, nineteen hundred and fifty-eight, be continued in force for a further period of one year until the tenth day of December, nineteen hundred and fifty-nine. This is the first of two Motions which stand on the Order Paper in the name of my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer, the other being concerned with the Emergency Laws (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act. I understand that each Motion is to be put separately, but that the House has found it convenient in the past to have any discussion that takes place upon the first Motion. May I ask you, Mr. Speaker, whether this course is agreeable to you?

Mr. Speaker

indicated assent.

Mr. Erroll

I presume that it is agreeable.

If these two Motions are passed by the House they will keep in force the Supplies and Services (Transitional Powers) Act, 1945, and, with one exception, the Defence Regulations which are still in force. The Government have already introduced the Emergency Laws Repeals Bill, which sets out new proposals for dealing with emergency legislation.

The Second Reading and subsequent debates will provide opportunities for discussing those proposals, and everything to do with emergency legislation. The sole purpose of the present Motions is to keep the remaining emergency powers in being until Parliament has had time to consider the Government's proposals about their future. Full details are given in the White Paper, Cmnd 563.

In the circumstances, therefore, and in the knowledge that a full debate will take place next week, I hope that it will be the general wish of the House to accept these two Motions without debate today.

3.53 p.m.

Mr. Gordon Walker (Smethwick)

In view of the fact that the question now before us will, in effect, be overtaken on Wednesday by the Bill, which we shall be able to debate both on Second Reading and in its later stages, and as the House has before it today important business which may take a considerable time to debate, hon. Members on this side are prepared to allow this stage of the matter to go without further debate.

Question put and agreed to.

Resolved, That an humble Address be presented to Her Majesty under section eight of the Supplies and Services (Transitional Powers) Act, 1945, praying that the said Act, which would otherwise expire on the tenth day of December, nineteen hundred and fifty-eight, be continued in force for a further period of one year until the tenth day of December, nineteen hundred and fifty-nine.

To be presented by Privy Councillors or Members of Her Majesty's Household.