§ Mr. WylieI beg to move Amendment No. 11, in page 9, line 37, leave out 'for households'.
This is a very small drafting Amendment which was mentioned in Committee. It seems offensive to the use of language to add the words "for households" to the words "home help". The intention would be perfectly clear without them.
§ Mr. MillanI cannot advise the House to accept this drafting Amendment. It might be possible to consider a home help in the context of people living in a boarding house, or in a lodging house, which is not a household. Having the words "for households" therefore adds something to the Clause. In any case, the phrase is required in line 41 to deal with laundry facilities and it is also used in the National Health (Scotland) Act, 1947, and in the Health Services and Public Health Bill which has just gone through the House. For the sake of consistency and because the phrase adds a little to the meaning of the Clause, we should retain it. I have been fairly ready to accept drafting Amendments where I thought they were worthwhile, but in this case it would be a mistake to agree to this Amendment and I hope that it will be withdrawn.
§ Mr. MacArthurThe Minister disappoints me now. We were getting on so well I thought that he would be bound to accept a most sensible Amendment. The phrase "for households" is linguistically offensive. Despite the Minister's observations, I cannot believe that it is necessary. It is inconceivable that a local authority would interpret the Clause without those two words as meaning that it should provide home help for boarding houses. The situation is too far-fetched for words. I do not believe that because the words have been used in the National Health Service (Scotland) Act, 1947, they have any particular sanctity. They were probably unnecessary and ugly words in that Act, just as they are now. I am sorry that the Minister is being obstinate about what I believe to be a helpful drafting Amendment
§ Mr. John Brewis (Galloway)When the Minister is talking about a household, does that have to be a house? What would happen to a family in a caravan? Would they be able to get home help?
§ Mr. Millan"Household" covers that, but not boarding houses or hotels. The House should remember that it is not a question of the local authority interpreting this Clause. We are actually placing a specific duty upon it to provide certain services, and in doing that we must make absolutely sure that we have defined that duty as precisely as possible.
§ Amendment negatived.
§
Amendment made: No. 13, in page 10, line 6, at end insert:
() On the coming into operation of the provisions of this and the last two foregoing sections, the provisions of sections (Home help and laundry facilities), (Extension of power, under the National Assistance Act, 1948, of local authority to provide accommodation elsewhere than in premises managed by them or another such authority) and (Promotion, by local authorities, of the welfare of old people) of the Health Services and Public Health Act. 1968 shall cease to have effect.—[Mr. Millan.]