HC Deb 11 November 1966 vol 735 cc1780-1

3.1 p.m.

The Joint Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (Mr. John Mackie)

I beg to move Amendment No. 1, in page 17, line 28, to leave out 'of veterinary surgeons'.

Mr. Speaker

I understand that it would be for the convenience of the House if we took the first 10 Government Amendments together. Is there any objection to that?

Mr. J. E. B. Hill (Norfolk, South)

No, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Mackie

If, as you say, Mr. Speaker, it would be in order, with the agreement of the Opposition, to take these Amendments together, will it be in order if I move them in one block?

Mr. Speaker

The hon. Member will move the first Amendment, and the others will be moved afterwards.

Mr. Mackie

The purpose of the first Amendment is to refer simply to the "register" instead of the "register of veterinary surgeons" since "register" is thus defined in the Bill.

Mr. Speaker

The hon. Gentleman may now refer to the other Amendments if he wishes to do so.

Mr. Mackie

The two following Amendments are consequential and drafting, and I beg to move them. The next four Amendments are purely drafting and tidying-up Amendments, and I beg to move them.

Mr. Speaker

The hon. Gentleman does not move them yet. He merely explains them.

Mr. Mackie

The last three Amendments are also small drafting ones.

Mr. Hill

We welcome the drafting Amendments. I wish that all the other parts of the Bill that could be improved by redrafting were going to be improved as well.

I have two questions for the Joint Parliamentary Secretary which are perhaps appropriate here. First, would he say when the different parts of the Bill and the Schedules are to come into operation? Secondly, in the Committee stage when it became clear that the elections would have to be put off for a year, some doubt was expressed whether any of the other powers of the Royal College, particularly the power to change the fees, would also be delayed. I believe that not to be the case and that the power with respect to fees would operate as from the passing of the Bill, but I should be grateful if the Joint Parliamentary Secretary would confirm these points.

Mr. John Mackie

If I may speak again with your permission, Mr. Speaker, and that of the House, I can confirm that as soon as the Bill becomes an Act it will come into force. With regard to the delay in the elections which we discussed in Committee, I can assure the right hon. Gentleman that there is no effect on anything else in the Bill.

Amendment agreed to.

Further Amendments made: No. 2, in page 17, line 34, leave out 'that' and insert 'the'.

No. 3, in line 38, leave out 'that' and insert 'the'.

No. 4, in page 18, line 11, leave out 'coming into operation' and insert 'commencement'.

No. 5, in line 21, after 'commencement', insert 'of sections 19 and 20'.

No. 6, in line 22, leave out 'the commencement of'.

No. 7, in line 28, leave out 'commencement' and insert 'passing'.—[Mr. John Mackie.]