HC Deb 03 April 1968 vol 762 cc552-61
Mr. Peyton

I beg to move Amendment No. 55, in page 10, line 14, leave out from "shall" to "and" in line 15 and insert: 'shall publish the fact in the London Gazette". The Amendment requires some more formality than is at present provided in the Schedule, which reads: …and shall notify the fact in such manner as the authority thinks fit; and thereupon the office shall become vacant. In my submission, and I hope that the House will accept this, when an official vacancy occurs it should not be notified in this sloppy way, "as the authority think fit", but should be done formally, so that everybody knows exactly when the office becomes vacant.

I do not wish to delay the House at this time of the night on what is a comparatively small point, but I believe this sort of sloppiness to be characteristic of the Bill, and I hope that the Minister will take the opportunity afforded by the Amendment to put it right.

Mr. Dell

I do not think that there is any question of sloppiness here. If the competent authority is satisfied, for the various reasons given, that a member should not continue as a member, the office will become vacant, and the fact will be notified in the proper way. Everyone will know that the office has become vacant, and we do not see any reason why there should be a specific legislative requirement of this sort. This Schedule is in the ordinary form of Schedules of this sort. It is not a normal requirement that this information should be published in the London Gazette, and I think that the House should be content with the wording as it is.

Mr. Peyton

I am not content with this. I do not want to be fussy or pedantic, but if that is the best the hon. Gentleman can do, I am sorry, and I hope very much that my hon. Friends will show their dissatisfaction with that kind of answer, and that we will express it in the only way open to us, in the Division Lobbies.

Question put, That the Amendment be made:—

The House divided: Ayes 123, Noes 153.

Division No. 108.] AYES [12.35 a.m.
Alison, Michael (Barkston Ash) Goodhart, Philip Onslow, Cranley
Astor, John Goodhew, Victor Orr, Capt. L. P. S.
Awdry, Daniel Gower, Raymond Osborn, John (Hallam)
Baker, K. W. (Acton) Grant, Anthony Percival, Ian
Bilker, W. H. K. (Banff) Gresham Cooke, R. Peyton, John
Balniel, Lord Griffiths, Eldon (Bury St. Edmunds) Pink, R. Bonner
Beamish, Col. Sir Tufton Halt-Davis, A. G. F. Price, David (Eastleigh)
Biggs-Davison, John Harrison, Col. Sir Harwood (Eye) Pym, Francis
Black, Sir Cyril Hawkins, Paul Quennell, Miss J. M.
Blaker, Peter Higgins, Terence L. Ramsden, Rt. Hn. James
Boardman, Tom Hiley, Joseph Rhys Williams, Sir Brandon
Boyd-Carpenter, Rt. Hn. John Hill, J. E. B. Ridley, Hn. Nicholas
Brinton, Sir Tatton Holland, Philip Rossi, Hugh (Hornsey)
Brown, Sir Edward (Bath) Hordem, Peter Royle, Anthony
Bryan, Paul Hornby, Richard Russell, Sir Ronald
Buchanan-Smith. Alick (Angus, N & M) Howell, David (Guildford) Scott, Nicholas
Buck, Antony (Colchester) Hunt, John Scott-Hopkins, James
Carr, Rt. Hn. Robert Jenkin, Patrick (Woodford) Sharpies, Richard
Channon, H. P. G. Jopling, Michael Sinclair, Sir George
Chichester-Clark, R. Kershaw, Anthony Stainton, Keith
Corfield, F. V. King, Evelyn (Dorset, S.) Stoddart-Scott, Col. Sir M. (Ripon)
Costain, A. P. Kirk, Peter Taylor, Edward M. (C'gow, Cathcart)
Crouch, David Kitson, Timothy Taylor, Frank (Moss Side)
Crowder, F. P. Knight, Mrs. Jill Temple, John M.
Dalkeith, Earl of Lane, David Thatcher, Mrs. Margaret
Dance, James Langford-Holt, Sir John Turton, Rt. Hn. R. H.
Dean, Paul (Somerset, N.) MacArthur, Ian van Straubenzee, W. R.
Deedes, Rt. Hn. W. F. (Ashford) Maclean, Sir Fitzroy Wall, Patrick
Digby, Simon Wingfield McMaster, Stanley Ward, Dame Irene
Doughty, Charles Maddan, Martin Weatherill, Bernard
du Cann, Rt. Hn. Edward Maginnis, John E. Webster, David
Eden, Sir John Maydon, Lt.-Cmdr. S. L. C. Wells, John (Maidstone)
Elliot, Capt. Walter (Carshalton) Mills, Peter (Torrington) Whitelaw, Rt. Hn. William
Elliott, R.W. (N'c'tle-upon-Tyne, N.) Mills, Stratton (Belfast, N.) Williams, W. D. (Dudley)
Emery, Peter Mitchell, David (Basingstoke) Wilson, Geoffrey (Truro)
Farr, John Monro, Hector Wolrige-Gordon, Patrick
Fisher, Nigel Montgomery, Fergus Worsley, Marcus
Fletcher-Cooke, Charles Murton, Oscar Wright, Esmond
Fortescue, Tim Neave, Airey Wylie, N. R.
Foster, Sir John Nicholls, Sir Harmar
Gibson-Watt, David Noble, Rt. Hn. Michael TELLERS FOR THE AYES:
Godber, Rt. Hn. J. B. Nott, John Mr. Jasper More and
Mr. Reginald Eyre.
NOES
Allaun, Frank (Salford, E.) Davies, Dr. Ernest (Stretford) Hamling, William
Alldritt, Walter Davies, G. Elfed (Rhondda, E.) Harper, Joseph
Allen, Scholefield Dell, Edmund Harrison, Walter (Wakefield)
Anderson, Donald Dewar, Donald Haseldine, Norman
Archer, Peter Dickens, James Hattersley, Roy
Atkinson, Norman (Tottenham) Dobson, Ray Hazell, Bert
Bagier, Gordon A. T. Doig, Peter Henig, Stanley
Barnett, Joel Dunn, James A. Hooley, Frank
Benn, Rt. Hn. Anthony Wedgwood Dunwoody, Mrs, Gwyneth (Exeter) Homer, John
Binns, John Dunwoody, Dr. John (F'th & C'b'e) Howarth, Robert (Bolton, E.)
Bishop, E. S. Eadie, Alex Hoy, James
Blenkinsop, Arthur Ellis, John Huckfield, Leslie
Booth, Albert Ennals, David Hughes, Roy (Newport)
Boyden, James Ensor, David Hunter, Adam
Bray, Dr. Jeremy Evana, Ioan L. (Birm'h'm, Yardley) Hynd, John
Brooks, Edwin Faulds, Andrew Irvine, Sir Arthur
Buchan, Norman Fletcher, Raymond (Ilkeston) Jackson, Colin (B'h'se & Spenb'gh)
Buchanan, Richard (G'gow, Sp'burn) Foot, Michael (Ebbw Vale) Jackson, Peter M. (High Peak)
Carmichael, Neil Ford, Ben Jenkins, Hugh (Putney)
Carter-Jones, Lewis Fowler, Gerry Johnson, James (K'ston-on-Hull, W.)
Coleman, Donald Freeson, Reginald Johnston, Russell (Inverness)
Concannon, J. D. Garrett, W. E. Jones, J. Idwal (Wrexham)
Crawshaw, Richard Gourtay, Harry Jones, T. Alec (Rhondda, West)
Crossman, Rt. Hn. Richard Gregory, Arnold Kerr, Dr. David (W'worth, Central)
Cullen, Mrs. Alice Grey, Charles (Durham) Lawson, George
Davidson, Arthur (Accrington) Griffiths, David (Rother Valley) Leadbitter, Ted
Davidson, James (Aberdeenshire, W.) Griffiths, Will (Exchange) Ledger, Ron
Hamilton, James (Bothwell) Lee, John (Reading)
Lestor, Miss Joan Milne, Edward (Blyth) Slater, Joseph
Lewis, Ron (Carlisle) Mitchell, R. C. (S'th'pton, Test) Spriggs, Leslie
Loughlin, Charles Morgan, Elystan (Cardiganshire) Steel, David (Roxburgh)
Lubbock, Eric Morris, Charles R. (Openshaw) Swain, Thomas
Lyon, Alexander W. (York) Newens, Stan Tinn, James
Lyons, Edward (Bradford, E.) O'Malley, Brian Wainwright, Edwin (Dearne Valley)
McBride, Neil Orme, Stanley Wainwright, Richard (Colne Valley)
McCann, John Oswald, Thomas Wallace, George
MacColl, James Owen, Will (Morpeth) Watkins, David (Consett)
Macdonald, A. H. Page, Derek (King's Lynn) Watkins, Tudor (Brecon & Radnor)
McGuire, Michael Palmer, Arthur Wellbeloved, James
Mackenzie, Gregor (Rutherglen) Parkyn, Brian (Bedford) Wells, William (Walsall, N.)
McMillan, Tom (Glasgow, C.) Pavitt, Laurence Whitaker, Ben
MacPherson, Malcolm Pentland, Norman Whitlock, William
Mahon, Simon (Bootle) Perry, Ernest G. (Battersea, S.) Williams, Clifford (Abertillery)
Mallalieu, E. L. (Brigg) Perry, George H. (Nottingham, S.) Willis, Rt. Hn. George
Manuel, Archie Price, William (Rugby) Winstanley, Dr. M. P.
Mapp, Charles Probert, Arthur Woodburn, Rt. Hn. A.
Marks, Kenneth Rees, Merlyn Woof, Robert
Marquand, David Roberts, Albert (Normanton) Yates, Victor
Maxwell, Robert Robertson, John (Paisley)
Mayhew, Christopher Rose, Paul TELLERS FOR THE NOES:
Mendelson, J. J. Ryan, John Mr. Eric G. Varley and
Millan, Bruce Silkin, Rt. Hn. John (Deptford) Mr. Harold Walker.
Miller, Dr. M. S. Silverman, Julius (Aston)
Mr. Peyton

I beg to move Amendment No. 56, in page 10, line 28, leave out from 'as' to 'and' in line 29 and insert 'may be approved by Parliament'.

Mr. Speaker

It might be for the convenience of the House to take with this Amendment 57, in page 10, line 29, leave out from 'determine' to end of line 33.

Mr. Peyton

I am concerned with what is in the Government's mind on this point. Paragraph (9) provides: The Board shall pay to its members such salaries or fees and such allowances as the competent authority with the approval of the Treasury may determine;". I want to substitute, may be approved by Parliament". 12.45 a.m.

I would not wish to press this Amendment upon the Government. I am simply asking them to give some guidance as to what they have in mind as to the level of salaries for members of these advisory boards, and whether they will be part time or full time. If whoever is to reply can give the House just rough guidance on this point I shall be perfectly prepared to ask leave to withdraw the Amendment, but I hope that I am not asking for too much in putting forward what I regard as a very modest demand indeed.

Mr. Dell

It is not possible to give the hon. Gentleman an answer to that question, for the simple reason that the boards which will be set up under this Bill will be of very different types, dealing with problems of very different natures, requiring in certain cases, perhaps, people devoting most of their time to them; in

other cases devoting only a very small part of their time to them. There will be a series of circumstances, and each of these circumstances will have to be judged on its merits.

Mr. Peyton

If I may, by leave of the House, I would say to the Joint Under-Secretary, without wishing to be offensive at all, that I regard that answer as totally inadequate. The provision is that the board shall pay such salaries or fees as the competent authority with the approval of the Treasury may determine". As the "competent authority" is the Minister—at any rate, he is one of the so-called "competent authorities"—and as the Treasury is the only other party involved, it would seem to me to be far from impossible for the Government just to go so far as to give the House some rough guidance as to what they mean. I myself distinguish between a full-time and a part-time member. If the Joint Under-Secretary cannot get up now and say something a little clearer than what he said just now, I with regret, because I do not wish to waste time, shall certainly ask my hon. Friends to go into the Lobby.

Mr. Dell

I do not know that that language is very appropriate from an hon. Member who was not even in the House to move one of his own Amendments. The fact is that the salaries payable under this Schedule will be paid for out of Vote, and will be subject to Parliamentary approval in the ordinary way. Paragraph 12 of the Schedule lays it down that these sums will be made known to the House so that all the facts of the situation will be known. It is a quite impossible and unreasonable request to make to the Minister that at this stage he should give a blanket answer to a question which in practical fact will have to be answered in a series of specific circumstances, each of them possibly different. Exactly this wording was used in the Shipbuilding Industry Act, and also in the Industrial Reorganisation Corporation Act, leaving it open, subject, as I have indicated, to the control of Parliamentary approval of a Vote, and to the House to decide whether the salaries are appropriate in the case of he boards set up under the Bill.

Mr. David Price

The Joint Parliamentary Secretary could have done a little better than that. My hon. Friend

was not asking for a precise figure in every case. He wanted some idea of the order of the salaries and allowances. He asked specifically whether the Government envisaged that these gentlemen would be serving part time or full time. That was a very proper question to ask. It is getting rather late and the hon. Gentleman may be feeling tired, but his attack on my hon. Friend about an Amendment which he did or did not move was uncalled for. My hon. Friend would be absolutely right to press this matter to a Division.

Question put, That the Amendment be made:—

The House divided: Ayes 127, Noes 146.

Division No. 109.] AYES [12.50 a.m.
Alison, Michael (Barkston Ash) Goodhew, Victor Orr, Capt. L. P. S.
Astor, John Gower, Raymond Osborn, John (Hallam)
Awdry, Daniel Grant, Anthony Percival, Ian
Baker, K. W. (Acton) Gresham Cooke, R. Peyton, John
Baker, W. H. K. (Banff) Griffiths, Eldon (Bury St. Edmunds) Pink, R. Bonner
Balniel, Lord Hall-Davis, A. G. F. Price, David (Eastleigh)
Beamish, Col. Sir Tufton Harrison, Col. Sir Harwood (Eye) Pym, Francis
Biggs-Davison, John Hawkins, Paul Quennell, Miss J. M.
Black, Sir Cyril Higgins, Terence L. Ramsden, Rt. Hn. James
Blaker, Peter Hiley, Joseph Rhys Williams, Sir Brandon
Boardman, Tom Hill, J. E. B. Ridley, Hn. Nicholas
Boyd-Carpenter, Rt. Hn. John Holland, Philip Rossi, Hugh (Hornsey)
Brinton, Sir Tatton Hordern, Peter Royle, Anthony
Brown, Sir Edward (Bath) Hornby. Richard Russell, Sir Ronald
Bryan, Paul Howell, David (Guildford) Scott, Nicholas
Buchanan- Smith, Alick (Angus, N&M) Hunt, John Scott-Hopkins, James
Buck, Antony (Colchester) Jenkin, Patrick (Woodford) Sharpies, Richard
Carr, Rt. Hn. Robert Johnston, Russell (Inverness) Sinclair, Sir George
Channon, H. P. G. Jopling, Michael Stainton, Keith
Chichester-Clark, R. Kershaw, Anthony Steel, David (Roxburgh)
Corfield, F. V. King, Evelyn (Dorset, S.) Stoddart-Scott, Col. Sir M. (Ripon)
Costain, A. P. Kirk, Peter Taylor, Edward M. (G'gow, Cathcart)
Crouch, David Kitson, Timothy Taylor, Frank (Moss Side)
Crowder, F. P. Knight, Mrs. Jill Temple, John M.
Dalkeith, Earl of Lane, David Thatcher, Mrs. Margaret
Dance, James Langford-Holt, Sir John Turton, Rt. Hn. R. H.
Davidson, James (Aberdeenshire, W.) Lubbock, Eric van Straubenzee, W. R.
Dean, Paul (Somerset, N.) MacArthur, Ian Wall, Patrick
Deedes, Rt. Hn. W. F. (Ashford) Maclean, Sir Fitzroy Ward, Dame Irene
Digby, Simon Wingfield McMaster, Stanley Webster, David
Doughty, Charles Maddan, Martin Wells, John (Maidstone)
du Cann, Rt. Hn. Edward Maginnis, John E. Whitelaw, Rt. Hn. William
Eden, Sir John Maydon, Lt-Cmdr. S. L. C. Williams, w. D. (Dudley)
Elliot, Capt. Walter (Carshalton) Mills, Peter (Torrington) Wilson, Geoffrey (Truro)
Elliott, R. W. (N'c'tle-upon-Tyne, N.) Mills, Stratton (Belfast, N.) Winstanley, Dr. M. P.
Emery, Peter Mitchell, David (Basingstoke) Wolrige-Gordon, Patrick
Farr, John Monro, Hector Worsley, Marcus
Fisher, Nigel Montgomery, Fergus Wright, Esmond
Fletcher-Cooke, Charles More, Jasper Wylie, N. R.
Fortescue, Tim Murton, Oscar
Foster, Sir John Neave, Airey TELLERS FOR THE AYES:
Gibson-Watt, David Noble, Rt. Hn. Michael Mr. Reginald Eyre and
Godber, Rt. Hn. J. B. Nott, John Mr. Bernard Weatherill.
Goodhart, Philip Onslow, Cranley
NOES
Allaun, Frank (Salford, E.) Bagier, Gordon A. T. Booth, Albert
Alldritt, Walter Barnett, Joel Boyden, James
Allen, Scholefield Bonn, Rt. Hn. Anthony Wedgwood Bray, Dr. Jeremy
Anderson, Donald Binns, John Brooks, Edwin
Archer, Peter Bishop, E. S. Buchan, Norman
Atkinson, Norman (Tottenham) Blenkinsop, Arthur Buchanan, Richard (G'gow, Sp'bunt)
Carmichael, Neil Hooley, Frank Morgan, Elystan (Cardiganshire)
Carter-Jones, Lewis Horner, John Morris, Charles R. (Openshaw)
Coleman, Donald Howarth, Robert (Bolton, E.) Newens, Stan
Concannon, J. D. Hoy, James O'Malley, Brian
Crawshaw, Richard Huckfield, Leslie Orme, Stanley
Crossman, Rt. Hn. Richard Hughes, Roy (Newport) Oswald, Thomas
Cutten, Mrs. Alice Hunter, Adam Owen, Will (Morpeth)
Davidson, Arthur (Accrington) Hynd, John Page, Derek (King's Lynn)
Davies, Dr. Ernest (Stretford) Jackson, Colin (B'h'se & Spenb'gh) Palmer, Arthur
Davies, G. Elfed (Rhondda, E.) Jackson, Peter M. (High Peak) Parkyn, Brian (Bedford)
Dell, Edmund Jenkins, Hugh (Putney) Pavitt, Laurence
Dewar, Donald Johnson, James (K'ston-on-Hull, W.) Pentland, Norman
Dickens, James Jones, J. Idwal (Wrexham) Perry, Ernest G. (Battersea, S.)
Dobson, Ray Jones, T. Alec (Rhondda, West) Perry, George H. (Nottingham, S.)
Doig, Peter Kerr, Dr. David (W'worth, Central) Price, William (Rugby)
Dunn, James A. Lawson, George Probert, Arthur
Dunwoody, Mrs. Cwyneth (Exeter) Leadbitter, Ted Rees, Merlyn
Dunwoody, Dr. John (F'th & C'b'e) Ledger, Ron Roberts, Albert (Normanton)
Eadie, Alex Lee, John (Reading) Robertson, John (Paisley)
Edwards, William (Merioneth) Lestor, Miss Joan Rose, Paul
Ellis, John Lewis, Ron (Carlisle) Ryan, John
Ennals, David Loughlin, Charles Silkin, Rt. Hn. John (Deptford)
Ensor, David Lyon, Alexander W. (York) Slater, Joseph
Evans, Ioan L. (Birm'h'm, Yardley) Lyons, Edward (Bradford, E.) Spriggs, Leslie
Faulds, Andrew McBride, Neil Swain, Thomas
Fletcher, Raymond (Ilkeston) McCann, John Tinn, James
Foot, Michael (Ebbw Vale) MacColl, James Urwin, T. W.
Ford, Ben Macdonald, A. H. Wainwright, Edwin (Dearne Valley)
Fowler, Gerry McGuire, Michael Wallace, George
Freeson, Reginald Mackenzie, Gregor (Rutherglen) Watkins, David (Consett)
Garrett, W. E. McMillan, Tom (Glasgow, C.) Watkins, Tudor (Brecon A Radnor)
Gourlay, Harry MacPherson, Malcolm Wellbeloved, James
Gregory, Arnold Mahon, Simon (Boone) Wells, William (Walsall, N.)
Grey, Charles (Durham) Mallalieu, E. L. (Brigg) Whitaker, Ben
Griffiths, David (Rother Valley) Manuel, Archie Whitlock, William
Griffiths, Will (Exchange) Mapp, Charles Williams, Clifford (Aberillery)
Hamilton, James (Bothwell) Marks, Kenneth Willis, Rt. Hn, George
Hamling, William Marquand, David Woodburn, Rt. Hn. A.
Harper, Joseph Maxwell, Robert Woof, Robert
Harrison, Walter (Wakefield) Mayhew, Christopher Yates, Victor
Haseldine, Norman Mendelson, J. J. TELLERS FOR THE NOES:
Hattersley, Roy Millan, Bruce Mr. Eric G. Varley and
Hazelt, Bert Miller, Dr. M. S. Mr. Harold Walker.
Henig, Stanley Mitchell, R. C. (S'th'pton, Test)
Mr. Peyton

I beg to move Amendment No. 58, in page 10, line 34, leave out paragraph 10.

Mr. Speaker

With this Amendment, we are taking Amendment No. 59 in line 43, at end insert: Provided that in no case shall the amount exceed £5,000.

1.0 a.m.

Mr. Peyton

This is an exploratory Amendment and I intend to move it with brevity, if I am given a chance, and in as conciliatory a manner as possible. This may be thought foolish in view of the rude reward I met with last time. I am not asking for a decision, but merely whether the responsible Minister will give the House rough guidance on the Government's thoughts. What pension levels are to be paid? If the Parliamentary Secretary cares to explain what is intended by way of gratuities, I should be mildly interested in that as well. Perhaps he would like to explain what "gratuities" mean in this context. I hope he will give a much better answer

than he did last time. It should not be beyond his capacity.

Mr. Dell

I thank the hon. Gentleman for his reference to my capacity. I hope we can now make peace. It is unlikely that these Boards will last long enough for their members to qualify for pensions as members of them—[Interruption]—hon. Members make the appropriate noises that we expect. Taking the Shipbuilding Industry Board as an example, it started in 1967 and expires in 1970 or 1971. That is normal. Other boards may be set up for varying periods to do jobs, but these are unlikely to be the sort of periods which would mean a person qualifying for pension in respect of his service with the Board. Nevertheless, the Board may wish to make a contribution to his existing pension fund, to help sustain the pension entitlement of a member of the Board. This Clause is intended to do no more than that.

Once more, it is in the form of the same type of provision in the Shipbuilding Industry Act and the Industrial Reorganisation Corporation Act.

As for the provision in respect of compensation to a member, it is unlikely that any large sums will be involved. This also is in the form in which it appears in the two Acts I have already mentioned. In this case, any sum paid would be subject to Parliamentary approval at the time it was decided, and the House would therefore have complete control over the matter and could reject any sum proposed to be paid in this respect. I hope, with this explanation, that the hon. Member for Yeovil (Mr. Peyton) will withdraw his Amendment.

Mr. Peyton

I appreciate the marked advance that that reply showed on the previous one. Therefore, I beg to ask leave to withdraw the Amendment.

Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.

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