§ 10.15 p.m.
§ Mr. WhitelawI beg to move Amendment No. 25, in Page 26, leave out lines 11 to 13 and insert:
'(a) elections (but not the franchise) and boundaries in respect of local authorities in Northern Ireland;'388 In Committee objection was taken by my right hon. Friend the Member for Wolverhampton, South-West (Mr. Powell) and the hon. Member for Salford, West (Mr. Orme) to the scope of the clause in that it enabled us to deal not only with minor matters concerning local government elections but also with certain major matters. I undertook to try to meet this point.The issue concerned the franchise. We have removed the franchise from the clause to meet that objection. I think that goes even further than the undertakings I gave, because in Committee I was not sure that I should be able to meet the point. On that basis, I hope the House will accept the amendment.
§ Captain OrrI accept that my right hon. Friend has done what he said he would do, and I hope that the House will approve the amendment.
§ Amendment agreed to.