HC Deb 10 December 1964 vol 703 cc1898-9
Mr. Houghton

I beg to move, in page 3, line 8, at the end to insert: (2) Subsection (2) of section 5 of the House of Commons Disqualification Act 1957 (reprinting of Schedule 1 as from time to time amended) shall apply to provisions of that Act other than Schedule 1 as it applies to that Schedule.

The Chairman

We can also discuss Amendment No. 12, in page 3, line 8, at end insert. (3) In section 13(1) of the said Act, in the definition of "Minister of State", the words "appointed at a salary" shall be omitted, and at the end there shall be added the words "or any office in respect of which a salary is payable out of moneys provided by Parliament under section 2 of the Ministerial Salaries Act 1946".

Mr. Houghton

I am sure that I shall carry the Committee with me on this Amendment. It is what is called the printing Clause of the 1957 Act. Section 5 of that Act provides for the amendment of the First Schedule of it. The First Schedule sets out the offices which are held to be offices disqualifying persons from membership of the House of Commons. Under Section 5 of the 1957 Act it was thought convenient that the First Schedule to it should be kept up to date and that additions to it or deletions from it should be incorporated in a revised version so that any citizen, any candidate for Parliament or any Member of Parliament could see by looking at the Schedule whether he occupied, or might be offered, a post which would disqualify him from membership of the House of Commons.

The provision for keeping Schedule 1 up to date did not, however, extend to Schedule 2. It seems to us now to be convenient for Schedule 2 to the 1957 Act to be kept up-to-date as revised in accordance with the Bill which is now before us, and that when the 1957 Act is reprinted both Schedules should be up-to-date. That will be for general convenience. I hope, further, that the Committee will agree that in reprinting the 1957 Act we should make a good job of it, do it all and not confine it to Schedule 1 as provided for in Section 5 of the 1957 Act.

Amendment agreed to:

Further Amendment made: In page 3, line 8, at end insert: (3) In section 13(1) of the said Act, in the definition of "Minister of State", the words "appointed at a salary" shall be omitted, and at the end there shall be added the words "or any office in respect of which a salary is payable out of moneys provided by Parliament under section 2 of the Ministerial Salaries Act 1946".—[Mr. Houghton.]

Mr. Houghton

I beg to move, in page 3, line 9, to leave out "2" and to insert "3".

This is a purely drafting Amendment.

Amendment agreed to.

Clause, as amended, ordered to stand part of the Bill.