ALLOWANCES FOR ATTENDING CONFERENCES AND MEETINGS

HC Deb 22 October 1973 vol 861 cc877-8

Lords Amendment: No. 3, in page 24, leave out lines 27 and 28.

Mr. Younger

I beg to move, That this House doth agree with the Lords in the said amendment.

Mr. Deputy Speaker (Miss Harvie Anderson)

With this we can also discuss the following Lords Amendments; No. 4. in page 25, line 6, at end insert: other than a water development board within the meaning of the Water (Scotland) Act 1967 and No. 5, in page 25, line 8, at end insert: (5) In relation to any water development board as aforesaid, this section applies to a conference or meeting held inside or outside the United Kingdom and convened by any other person or body (other than a person or body convening it in the course of a trade or business or a body the objects of which are wholly or partly political) for the purpose of discussing matters which in the opinion of the board relate to their functions. I call the attention of the House to the fact that privilege is involved in Lords Amendment, No. 5.

Mr. Younger

These amendments ensure that Clause 47 as to allowances to members for attending conferences and meetings will apply to the Central Scotland Water Development Board as they apply to a local authority. Although they refer to any water development board there is at present only one such board, the Central Scotland Water Development Board, and no other is contemplated.

Mr. Ross

Can the hon. Gentleman tell us what is meant by Amendment No. 5?

Mr. Younger

By leave. There are three amendments. The first amendment removes paragraph (c) from subsection (1) because, even without (c), the clause will apply to a water development board, which is a body covered by Clause 49 (1)(d).

The second and third amendments deal with the scope of conferences or meetings to which the clause will apply in relation to a water development board. As the clause stood, subsection (4) puts a water development board in the same restricted position as a body other than a local authority. It covers: a conference or meeting convened by one or more such bodies or by an association of such bodies ". Under the Water (Scotland) Act 1967 a water development board is not restricted in this way but has the same powers as a county council. The amendments put this right. The new subsection (5) gives a water development board the same powers, so far as relevant, as a local authority has under subsection (3).

Question put and agreed to.

Subsequent Lords amendments agreed to [Special entry].