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Lords Amendment: In page 7, line 15, leave out from "board" to end of line 16 and insert:
during such period, not exceeding six months, as may elapse before new members are appointed".
§ 10.15 p.m.
§ The Minister of Labour (Mr. J. B. Godber)I beg to move, That this House doth agree with the Lords in the said Amendment.
This Amendment limits to six months the period for which a person authorised by the Minister may act in the place of members of a board which has been declared in default. This point was raised in another place, and it seemed to us that there was substance in it. We are happy to insert these words to replace the words suggested originally.
§ Mr. R. E. Prentice (East Ham, North)This Amendment was suggested in another place by Lord Lindgren. This is one of the many ways in which members of the Opposition in both Houses, by their vigilance, have been able to make improvements in the Bill. We support the Amendment. We would all agree that the powers in Clause 7 should be regarded as reserve powers, and we hope that they will never need to be used. But they are there as an alternate sanction for the Minister, and in that context a six months' limit is probably about right.
§ Question put and agreed to.