§ Mr. PeytonI 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. DellI 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. PeytonI 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 553 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.
555| 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. PeytonI 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. SpeakerIt 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. PeytonI 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. DellIt 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. PeytonIf 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. DellI 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 557 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 PriceThe 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.
559| 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. PeytonI beg to move Amendment No. 58, in page 10, line 34, leave out paragraph 10.
§ Mr. SpeakerWith 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. PeytonThis 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. DellI 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.
561 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. PeytonI 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.