HC Deb 23 January 1963 vol 670 cc101-5

Resolution reported, That, for the purposes of any Act of the present Session to make provision with respect to local government and the functions of local authorities in the metropolitan area, it is expedient to authorise—

  1. (a)the payment out of moneys provided by Parliament—
    1. (i) of any expenses incurred by any Minister under that Act; and
    2. (ii) of any increase attributable to the provisions of that Act in the sums payable out of moneys so provided under any other enactment;
  2. (b) the payment into the Exchequer of any sums received by any Minister under that Act;
and in this Resolution the expression "Minister" includes the Board of Trade.

Resolution read a Second time.

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

4.20 p.m.

Mr. Michael Stewart (Fulham)

I wish to say only a few words on this matter. When we were dealing with the Money Resolution in Committee, I asked the Government what would be its effect on certain Amendments which hon. Members might wish to move in Committee. I had in mind particularly Amendments which might make it possible for membership of the Greater London Council to be a salaried post, Amendments which would make it possible for help to be given to the truncated counties of Essex, Kent and Surrey at the expense of the Exchequer rather than at the expense of the inhabitants of Greater London, and Amendments which might make it possible for the Government to help in any compensation that it might be appropriate to pay to the staff of the London County Council or other bodies affected by the Bill.

I asked whether Amendments of that kind would be in order under the Money Resolution as drafted. The Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Housing

and Local Government was not able to give me a firm reply. I make no complaint about that, because the exact significance of a Money Resolution is always a difficult and complex matter. Since then the Minister has been kind enough to communicate with me about it.

I want now to state what I believe the position to be and what I hope the Government may be able to confirm. I believe it to be as follows: that it is not possible, of course, for the Government to give firm advance rulings on something which is within the province of the Chair; that the Government cannot positively say that this, that or the other Amendment will be in order, but they can say that they have so drafted the Money Resolution than it is their intention that such Amendments should be in order and that to the best of their belief such Amendments would be in order with the Money Resolution drafted as it is.

I understand the position today to be that the Money Resolution is, in the Government's view, so drafted that Amendments dealing with the three topics I have mentioned—salaries for members of the Greater London Council, Exchequer payments to the truncated counties, and Exchequer assistance for compensation to staff are matters which could properly be discussed by means of Amendments in Committee. They are matters in which a great many hon. Members are interested and I hope that the Government will be able to confirm that the position is as I have described it.

4.23 p.m.

The Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs (Sir Keith Joseph)

Subject always to the discretion of the Chair, I can confirm that the advice I am given is that these three subjects are covered within the Money Resolution and, therefore, can be debated.

Question put, That this House doth agree with the Committee in the said Resolution:—

The House divided: Ayes 240, Noes 185.

Division No. 23.] AYES [4.25 p.m.
Agnew, Sir Peter Balniel, Lord Bevins, Rt. Hon. Reginald
Allan, Robert (Partington, S.) Barter, John Bidgood, John C.
Allason, James Batsford, Brian Bitten, John
Atkins, Humphrey Beamish, Col. Sir Tufton Biggs-Davison, John
Awdry, Daniel (Chippenham) Bennett, Dr. Reginald (Gos & Fhm) Birch, Rt. Hon. Nigel
Bishop, F. P. Hill, Dr. Rt. Hon. Charles (Luton) Pannell, Norman (Kirkdale)
Black, Sir Cyrll Hill, Mrs. Eveline (Wythneshawe) Partridge, E.
Bossom, Hon. Clive Hirst, Geoffrey Pearson, Frank (Clitheroe)
Bourne-Arton, A. Hocking, Philip N. Peel, John
Box, Donald Holland, Philip Pickthorn, Sir Kenneth
Braine, Bernard Hollingworth, John Pilkington, Sir Richard
Brewis, John Hopkins, Alan Pitman, Sir James
Bromley-Davenport, Lt.Col. Sir Walter Hornby, R. P. Pott, Percivall
Brooke, Rt. Hon. Henry Hornsby-Smith, Rt. Hon. Dame P. Price, David (Eastleigh)
Brown, Alan (Tottenham) Howard, Hon. G. R. (St. Ives) Price, H. A. (Lewisham, W.)
Bryan, Paul Howard, John (Southampton, Test) Profumo, Rt. Hon. John
Buck, Antony Hughes Hallett, Vice-Admiral John Proudfoot, Wilfred
Bullard, Denys Hughes-Young, Michael Pym, Francis
Burden, F. A. Hulbert, Sir Norman Quennell, Miss J. M.
Butcher, Sir Herbert Hutchison, Michael Clark Ramsden, James
Campbell, Sir David (Belfast, S.) Irvine, Bryant Godman (Rye) Rawlinson, Sir Peter
Campbell, Gordon (Moray & Nairn) James, David Redmayne, Rt. Hon. Martin
Carr, Compton (Barons Court) Jenkins, Robert (Dulwich) Rees, Hugh
Cary, Sir Robert Johnson, Dr. Donald (Carlisle) Renton, Rt. Hon. David
Channon, H. P. G. Johnson, Eric (Blackley) Ridley, Hon. Nicholas
Chataway, Christopher Johnson Smith, Geoffrey Roots, William
Chichester-Clark, R. Jones, Arthur (Northants, S) Ropner, Col. Leonard
Clark, William (Nottingham, S.) Joseph, Rt. Hon. Sir Keith St. Clair, M.
Clarke, Brig. Terence(Portsmth, W.) Kaberry, Sir Donald Scott-Hopkins, James
Cleaver, Leonard Kerans, Cdr. J. S. Sharples, Richard
Cooke, Robert Kerby, Capt. Henry Shaw, M.
Cooper, A. E. Kershaw, Anthony Shepherd, William
Cordeaux, Lt-Col. J. K. Kimball, Marcus Skeet, T. H. H.
Kirk, Peter Smith, Dudley (Br'ntf'd & Chiswick)
Corfield, F. V. Kitson, Timothy Soames, Rt. Hon. Christopher
Costain, A. P. Lagden, Godfrey Spearman, Sir Alexander
Coulson, Michael Lambton, Viscount Speir, Rupert
Courtney, Cdr. Anthony Lancaster, Col. C. G. Stanley, Hon. Richard
Craddock, Sir Beresford (Spelthorne) Langford-Holt, Sir John Stevens, Geoffrey
Crawley, Aidan Leburn, Gilmour Steward, Harold (Stockport, S.)
Crosthwaite-Eyre, Col. Sir Oliver Legge-Bourke, Sir Harry Stodart, J. A.
Cunningham, Knox Lewis, Kenneth (Rutland) Studholme, Sir Henry
Dalkeith, Earl of Lilley, F. J. P. Summers, Sir Spencer
Dance, James Linstead, Sir Hugh Taylor, Sir Charles (Eastbourne)
d'Avigdor-Goldsmid, Sir Henry Litchfield, Capt. John Teeling, Sir William
Deedes, Rt. Hon. W. F. Longbottom, Charles Temple, John M.
Donaldson, Cmdr. C. E. M. Longden, Gilbert Thatcher, Mrs. Margaret
Drayson, G. B. Loveys, Walter H. Thomas, Peter (Conway)
Duncan, Sir James Lucas, Sir Jocelyn Thompson, Sir Kenneth (Walton)
Eden, John Lucas-Tooth, Sir Hugh Thompson, Sir Richard (Croydon, S.)
Elliot, Capt. Walter (Carshalton) MacArthur, Ian Thorneycroft, Rt. Hon. Peter
Elliott, R.W. (Nwcastle-upon-Tyne, N.) Maclay, Rt. Hon. John Thornton-Kemsley, Sir Colin
Emmet, Hon. Mrs. Evelyn Maclean, Sir Fitzroy (Bute&N. Ayrs) Tiley, Arthur (Bradford, w.)
Erroll, Rt. Hon. F. J. Macleod, Rt. Hn. Iain (Enfield, W.) Touche, Rt. Hon. Sir Gordon
Farey-Jones, F. W. McMaster, Stanley R. Turner, Colin
Fell, Anthony Maddan, Martin Turton, Rt. Hon. R. H.
Fisher, Nigel Maginnis, John E. Tweedsmuir, Lady.
Foster, John Markham, Major Sir Frank van Straubenzee, W. R.
Fraser, Ian (Plymouth, Sutton) Marlowe, Anthony Vane, W. M. F.
Gammans, Lady Marples, Rt. Hon. Ernest Vaughan-Morgan, Rt. Hon. Sir John
Gardner, Edward Marshall, Douglas Vickers, Miss Joan
Gibson-Watt, David
Gilmour, Sir John (East Fife) Marten, Neil Wakefield, Sir Wavell (St. M'lebone)
Glover, Sir Douglas Mathew, Robert (Honiton) Walder, David
Glyn, Dr. Alan (Clapham) Matthews, Gordon (Meriden) Walker, Peter
Glyn, Sir Richard (Dorset, N.) Mawby, Ray Wall, Patrick
Goodhew, Victor Maxwell-Hyslop, R. J. Ward, Dame Irene
Gough, Frederick Maydon, Lt.-Cmdr. S. L. C. Webster, David
Grant-Ferris, R. Mills, Stratton Wells, John (Maidstone)
Green, Alan Montgomery, Fergus Williams, Dudley (Exeter)
Gresham Cooke, R. More, Jasper (Ludlow) Williams, Paul (Sunderland, S.)
Gurden, Harold Morgan, William Wills, Sir Gerald (Bridgwater)
Hamilton, Michael (Wellingborough) Morrison, John Wise, A. R.
Harris, Frederic (Croydon, N.W.) Mott-Radclyffe, Sir Charles Wolrige-Gordon, Patrick
Harrison, Brian (Maldon) Nabarro, Sir Gerald Woodhouse, C. M.
Harvey, Sir Arthur vere(Macclesf'd) Neave, Alrey Woodnutt, Mark
Harvie Anderson, Miss Nicholson, Sir Godfrey Woollam, John
Hastings, Stephen Nugent, Rt. Hon. Sir Richard Worsley, Marcus
Hay, John Osborn, John (Hallam)
Henderson, John (Cathcart) Osborne, Sir Cyril (Louth) TELLERS FOR THE AYES:
Hendry, Forbes Page, Graham (Crosby) Mr. J. E. B. Hill and
Hiley, Joseph Page, John (Harrow, West) Mr. McLaren.
NOES
Abse, Leo Awbery, Stan (Bristol, Central) Blyton, William
Ainsley, William Bence, Cyril Bottomley, Rt. Hon. A. G.
Albu, Austen Bennett, J. (Glasgow, Bridgeton) Boyden, James
Allaun, Frank (Salford, E.) Benson, Sir George Braddock, Mrs. E. M.
Allen, Scholefield (Crewe) Blackburn, F. Bray, Dr. Jeremy
Brockway, A. Fenner Hoy, James H. Plummer, Sir Leslie
Broughton, Dr. A. D. D. Hughes, Emrys (S. Ayrshire) Popplewell, Ernest
Bullus, Wing Commander Eric Hughes, Hector (Aberdeen, N.) Prentice, R. E.
Butler, Mrs. Joyce (Wood Green) Hunter, A. E. Price, J. T. (Westhoughton)
Callaghan, James Hynd, H. (Accrington) Probert, Arthur
Carmichael, Nell Hynd, John (Attercliffe) Pursey, Cmdr. Harry
Caetle, Mrs. Barbara Irving, Sydney (Dartford) Rankin, John
Chapman, Donald Janner, Sir Barnett Reynolds, G. W.
Cliffe, Michael Jeger, George Rhodes, H.
Collick, Percy Johnson, Carol (Lewisham, S.) Roberts, Albert (Normanton)
Craddock, George (Bradford, S.) Jones, Rt.Hn. A. Creech (Wakefield) Roberts, Goronwy (Caernarvon)
Cullen, Mrs. Alice Jones, Dan (Burnley) Robertson, John (Paisley)
Dalyell, Tam Jones, Elwyn (West Ham, S.) Robinson, Kenneth (St. Pancras, N.)
Darling, George Jones, J. Idwal (Wrexham) Rodgers, W. T. (Stockton)
Davies, C. Elfed (Rhondda, E.) Jones, T. W. (Merioneth) Ross, William
Davies, Harold (Leek) Kelley, Richard Russell, Ronald
Davies, Ifor (Gower) Key, Rt. Hon. C. W. Shinwell. Rt. Hon. E.
Deer, George King, Dr. Horace Short, Edward
Dempsey, James Ledger, Ron Silverman, Julius (Aston)
Diamond, John Lee, Frederick (Newton) Silverman, Sydney (Nelson)
Dodds, John Lewis, Arthur (West Ham, N.) Skeffington, Arthur
Driberg, Tom Lipton, Marcus Slater, Mrs. Harriet (Stoke, N.)
Dugdale, Rt. Hon. John Loughlin, Charles Small, William
Ede, Rt. Hon. C. Lubbock, Eric Smith, Ellis (Stoke, S.)
Edwards, Rt. Hon. Ness (Caerphilly) Mabon, Dr. J. Dickson Snow, Julian
Edwards, Robert (Bilston) McCann, John Spriggs, Leslie
Edwards, Walter (Stepney) MacColl, James Steele, Thomas
Fernyhough, E. McInnes, James Stewart, Michael (Fulham)
Fitch, Alan McKay, John (Wallsend) Stonehouse, John
Fletcher, Eric Mackie, John (Enfield, East) Stones, William
Foot, Dingle (Ipswich) McLeavy, Frank Strachey, Rt. Hon. John
Foot, Michael (Ebbw Vale) MacMillan, Malcolm (Western Isles) Strauss, Rt. Hn. G. R. (Vauxhall)
Forman, J. C. MacPherson, Malcolm (Stirling) Stross, Dr. Barnett (Stoke-on-Trent, C.)
Fraser, Thomas (Hamilton) Mallalieu, E. L. (Brigg) Swingler, Stephen
Galpern, Sir Myer Manuel, Archie Symonds, J. B.
George, Lady Megan Lloyd (Crmrthn) Mapp, Charles Taylor, Bernard (Mansfield)
Ginsburg, David Mason, Roy Thompson, Dr. Alan (Dunfermline)
Gourlay, Harry Mayhew, Christopher Thomson, G. M. (Dundee, E.)
Greenwood, Anthony Mellish, R. J. Thornton, Ernest
Grey, Charles Mendelson, J. J. Thorpe, Jeremy
Griffiths, David (Rother Valley) Milian, Bruce Timmons, John
Griffiths, W. (Exchange) Milne, Edward Wainwright, Edwin
Grimond, Rt. Hon. J. Mitchison, G. R. Warbey, William
Gunter, Ray Monslow, Walter Wells, William (Walsall, N.)
Hale, Leslie (Oldham, W.) Moody, A. S. Whitlock, William
Hamilton, William (West Fife) Moyle, Arthur Wilkins, W. A.
Hannan, William Neal, Harold Willey, Frederick
Harper, Joseph Oram, A. E. Williams, LI. (Abertillery)
Healey, Denis Oswald, Thomas Willis, E. G. (Edinburgh, E.)
Herbison, Miss Margaret Padley, W. E. Wilson, Rt. Hon. Harold (Huyton)
Hewitson, Capt. M. Paget, R. T. Winterbottom, R. E.
Hill, J. (Midlothian) Pannell, Charles (Leeds, W.) Woodburn, Rt. Hon. A.
Hilton, A. V. Pargiter, G. A. Yates, Victor (Ladywood)
Holman, Percy Parker, John Zilliacus, K.
Holt, Arthur Parkin, B. T.
Houghton, Douglas Pavitt, Laurence TELLERS FOR THE NOES:
Howell, Charles A. (Perry Barr) Pearson, Arthur (Pontypridd) Mr. Redhead and Mr. Lawson
Howell, Denis (Small Heath) Peart, Frederick