HC Deb 16 June 1967 vol 748 cc986-7

2.35 p.m.

Mrs. Joyce Butler (Wood Green)

I beg to move Amendment No. 1, in page 1, line 25, after 'desirable', to insert: 'may confer exemptions from the provisions of the regulations.' The Amendment has been introduced to meet a point made by the hon. Member for Rye (Mr. Bryant Godman Irvine) in Committee, when he asked that Clause 3 be amended to exclude from the transactions covered by the Bill inter-company sales of technical or formulated material. If the hon. Gentleman's suggestion were adopted it might make it difficult for the prosecution to secure a conviction in a case where it was claimed under Clause 3(6) that the contravention was due to an act or default of another person and that other person was a company involved in transactions giving exemption from the provisions of the Bill.

Accordingly, I have tabled the Amendment, because, although I am satisfied that subsection (5) covers the point, this as it were underlines it and gives additional emphasis to the point made by the hon. Gentleman. I hope, therefore, that it will be accepted.

Mr. Bryant Godman Irvine (Rye)

I thank the hon. Lady the Member for Wood Green (Mrs. Joyce Butler) for the courtesy and attention which she has paid to the point I raised in Committee. I am delighted to know that it has resulted in an Amendment to Clause 1. The only thing I am not sure about is what happened to the suggestion I made with regard to Clause 1. Perhaps she will be able to explain that it has been dealt with in another place.

Mr. Speaker

The hon. Lady will not be able to tell the hon. Gentleman that at this stage.

Amendment agreed to.