HC Deb 14 July 1977 vol 935 cc975-6
Mr. Denzil Davies

I beg to move Amendment No. 5, in page 6, line 16, leave out subsection (3).

Mr. Deputy Speaker

With this we may take Government Amendment No. 6.

Mr. Davies

The amendment is necessary to tidy up some inconsistencies in the Bill as a result of the unfortunate Government defeat in Standing Committee on the question of showmen's trailers. The object of the amendment is to align the drafting of the Bill with the amendment made in Standing Committee. I assure the House, and especially the hon. Member for Braintree (Mr. Newton), who moved the amendment in Committee, that there is no intention to undermine or reverse that amendment. I have written to the hon. Gentleman. I hope that that makes clear to the House the reason for these consequential drafting amendments.

Mr. Newton

In an entirely modest and, I assure the House, brief way, I feel entitled to take scme small satisfaction from a tiny hat-trick this evening. I was the mover of the amendment on the mobility allowance, which has been accepted; I raised the point about the maintenance of divorced wives, which has been partially accepted; and now the Government have tidied up the Bill following the acceptance of my amendment in Standing Committee on the matter of showman's trailers.

Because of that, I view Ministers in a singularly rosy glow at this moment for their co-operativeness, helpfulness and general virtue. I am grateful to the Minister of State for not seeking to reverse the benefit that we gave upstairs to that entirely worthy body of men, the travelling showmen of England, and I am correspondingly grateful to the Minister for these tidying-up amendments.

Amendment agreed to.

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