HC Deb 01 May 1962 vol 658 cc898-9
Mr. Soames

I beg to move, in page 4, line 32, to leave out "new".

It might be convenient also for the House to discuss with this Amendment the Amendments in page 4, line 38; in page 28, line 21; in page 35, line 44; in page 36, line 2; in page 37, line 18; in page 37, line 24; in page 38, line 32; and in page 42, line 54. They are all connected and flow directly from the first Amendment.

The purpose of the Amendments is to make clear that grants for the acquisition of white fish or herring vessels and for engines or equipment can be given only for new material and are not available for anything that is second- hand. This has been the position under both the 1953 and 1957 Acts which make the grants available, and it was not the intention in the Bill to make any change. The original words of the Clause do not make this plain, as was revealed by discussions in Committee. It was pointed out in Committee that the words could be read to include secondhand vessels. The Amendments are intended to clear up any doubt.

The Amendments to the Second Schedule are purely consequential. They provide for corresponding verbal amendments in the 1953 and 1957 Acts from which the powers to pay grants are derived. The Amendment to Clause 33 brings that Clause into line with the 1953 and 1957 Acts in their new form.

Mr. Peart

The Minister has appreciated that when this matter was raised in Committee it was thought that the present wording made it possible for the payment of grants for second-hand equipment, and it was not clear that only new equipment could be grant-aided. We merely sought to clarify the existing legislation and we accept what the Minister has said.

Amendment agreed to.

Further A mendments made: In page 4, line 33, leave out from "applies" to "or" in line 34.

In line 38, at end insert: Provided that no grant shall be so made in respect of expenditure incurred in the acquisition of any secondhand vessel, engine, part, equipment or apparatus.—[Mr. Soames.]