HC Deb 09 March 1965 vol 708 cc296-7
Mr. Willis

I beg to move Amendment No. 15, page 22, line 27, after the first "the", to insert "average".

I think that it would be for the convenience of the House if we discussed, at the same time, Amendment No. 16.

Mr. Deputy-Speaker

So be it.

Mr. Willis

The Amendments are consequential upon the acceptance by the Government of a number of Opposition Amendments on Clause 9 in Committee. As originally drafted, the Clause imposed restrictions—dependent on the level of market prices—on the exercise of the trading powers conferred on the Authority by an order made under Clause 8. It empowers the Minister to make provision in regulations as to the way in which market prices are to be determined.

In practice, these would be average market prices, and the effect of the Amendments moved by hon. Members opposite was to provide specifically for this. It will be seen that paragraph 4(2,b) of Schedule 2 refers back to Clause 9 and we need to have references to the average market price to conform with that Clause, as amended. That is the purpose of the Amendments which will I hope commend themselves to the House.

Mr. Scott-Hopkins

I am grateful to the Minister and I am glad that he has mastered his brief so well as to be able to give such a clear explanation. These are purely drafting Amendments following the acceptance by the Government of Amendments moved from this side of the House at an earlier stage. I am grateful to the Government for doing the drafting corrections which the acceptance of those Amendments made necessary.

Amendment agreed to.

Further Amendment made: In page 22, line 28, leave out "the market" and insert "that".—[Mr. Willis.]