HC Deb 22 July 1959 vol 609 cc1416-7

Lords Amendment: In page 1, line 7, leave out from "words" to "and" in line 9 and insert: 'in a prescribed manner' shall be substituted for the words 'with oil paint', the words 'in a prescribed manner' shall be inserted after the word 'repainted' ".

Motion made, and Question proposed, That this House doth agree with the Lords in the said Amendment.

Dr. Barnett Stross (Stoke-on-Trent, Central)

I should like to ask the right hon. Gentleman a question about this Amendment. I do not understand what is meant by the words "in a prescribed manner". When we discussed this subject ourselves in Committee upstairs, we understood that paints have changed in quality, and we put in a certain period of time and suggested that suitable paints should be used. If we are now to have words of this nature and a phrase like "in the prescribed manner", I should like to ask what exactly that method of prescription means. Does it mean that every factory owner will be told how many coats of paint he has to put on his factory, as well as the quality of the paint?

Mr. Iain Macleod

As it was originally drafted. Clause 1 allowed me to prescribe the type of paint to be used and the periods of repainting, but what it did not allow me to do was to specify exactly the point which the hon. Member for Stoke-on-Trent, Central (Dr. Stross) has just mentioned, which is how many coats of paint should be applied, which is obviously an important consideration in the case of some types of paint.

If we adopt the Amendment, that defect will be remedied, and I shall be able to prescribe different types of paint, appropriate intervals of repainting, and such matters as the number of coats that can be applied. Therefore, we will have a wider discretion if the Amendment is adopted.

Question put and agreed to.