HC Deb 15 July 1964 vol 698 c1298

Lords Amendment: In page 11, line 23, leave out from "date" to end of line and insert "of the passing of this Act".

Mr. du Cann

I beg to move, That this House doth agree with the Lords in the said Amendment.

I think that this Amendment can almost be described as a purist's Amendment. It is purely a drafting improvement accepted in another place to meet the criticism that words used transitively in Clause 12(2) are used intransitively in Clause 14. We thought that we should put the matter right. What the right hon. Gentleman, in view of what he said about speaking English at an earlier stage of the passage of the Bill, may think of this Amendment in his heart of hearts, I do not know. I hope that he will agree, at any rate, that we are doing our best to get the Bill into proper English.

Mr. Jay

I think that as English it is neither better nor worse than it was before. Can the hon. Gentleman assure me that it means exactly the same as previously?

Mr. du Cann

By leave, I would say without doubt.

Question put and agreed to.