HC Deb 23 May 1966 vol 729 cc161-3

[Queen's Recommendation signified]

Considered in Committee under Standing Order No. 88 (Money Committees).

[Sir ERIC FLETCHER in the Chair]

Motion made, and Question proposed,

That, for the purposes of any Act of the present Session to make further provision for regulating the employment of dock workers, is expedient to authorise—

1. the payment out of moneys provided by Parliament—

  1. (a) of any sums required by the Minister of Transport for making to licensing authorities loans required by such authorities for making payments under the provisions of that Act relating to the compensation 162 of persons prohibited from employing, or working on their own account as, dock workers;
  2. (b) of any sums required by the Minister of Labour for making loans to the National Dock Labour Board, or any other body for the time being responsible for the administration of any labour scheme within the meaning of that Act, for enabling the said Board or other body to remedy defaults in the provision or maintenance of welfare amenities under that Act;
  3. (c) of fees and allowances to persons appointed to hold inquiries under that Act. and to assessors at such inquiries, and allowances to persons giving evidence before such inquiries;
  4. (d) of any expenses incurred by any Minister in carrying that Act into effect; and
  5. (e) of any increase attributable to that Act in the sums payable out of moneys so provided by way of rate deficiency grant or Exchequer equalisation grant under the enactments relating to local government in England and Wales or in Scotland;

2. the payment into the Exchequer and the re-issue out of the Consolidated Fund of any sums required to be so paid or re-issued by virtue of provisions of the said Act relating to the assumption of debts by harbour authorities.—[Mr. Swingler.]

9.45 p.m.

Sir Keith Joseph (Leeds, North-East)

I have only one minor point to raise on the Money Resolution. I should have explained that I knew that there was a reference to the provisions contained in Clause 35(5). My worry is that the Customs authorities may not be as willing to co-operate in the new schemes as the Government are to set them up. Will the Parliamentary Secretary tell us whether any power is given in the Money Resolution to cover any extra expenditure which the Customs and Excise might have to undertake in approving and servicing schemes of this sort?

The Joint Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Transport (Mr. Stephen Swingler)

No, Sir. The right hon. Gentleman will see that subsection (5) provides that Nothing in this section shall affect the power of the Commissioners of Customs and Excise under the enactments relating to customs and excise to approve places for the loading, unloading, deposit, keeping or securing of goods or the conditions and restrictions subject to which approval may be given to any such places. I should have thought that that answered the right hon. Gentleman's question.

Mr. Nicholas Ridley (Cirencester and Tewkesbury)

With respect, I do not think that it does answer the question put by my right hon. Friend. He pointed out that the Money Resolution does not refer to the Treasury having the power to expend money on the Customs authorities in order to allow them to provide the extra facilities and extra supervision which may be necessary if inland depots are provided under the Bill.

In Committee, we may want to raise this point, and to make sure that there will be no obstruction from the Customs authorities in connection with the provision of these depots. We cannot see in the Money Resolution any reference whatever to the power for this to be done. My right hon. Friend is quite prepared to be told that it is in order, but I feel that the Parliamentary Secretary must answer the question arising from the Money Resolution not by quoting the Bill, but by quoting the Resolution.

The Chairman

The Question is——

Hon. Members

Answer.

The Chairman

The Question is——

Hon. Members

Answer.

Mr. Ridley rose——

The Chairman

Order. The hon. Gentleman cannot ask me to answer.

Question put and agreed to.

Resolution to be reported.

Report to be received Tomorrow.