HC Deb 21 June 1977 vol 933 cc1577-8
Mr. John Fraser

I beg to move Amendment No. 57, in page 28, line 6, leave out paragraphs (a) and (b) and insert—

  1. '(a) the function of carrying out and completing an investigation, and of holding any public inquiry required in connection with the investigation, which is conferred on the Commission by section 6 of this Act; or
  2. (b) the function of examining a question which is conferred on the Commission by section 11(1) of this Act,'.

Mr. Deputy Speaker

With this Amendment we may also take Government Amendments Nos. 58 to 62.

Mr. John Fraser

I mention this amendment because it is an important concession to the Opposition.

The basic purpose of the amendments is to provide that where an investigation or examination has been remitted to a group of Commission members, the group's findings will have no effect unless included in a report made by the Commission as a whole.

I promised that I would introduce amendments to this effect. They are important and I thought that an explanation should appear on the record.

Mr. Giles Shaw

I should not like this occasion to pass without acknowledging the concession which the Government have made—a concession which we regard as important for the effective working of the Commission. We accept the amendment.

Amendment agreed to.

Amendments made: No. 58, in page 28, line 10, leave out 'those functions have' and insert 'the function has'.

No. 59, in page 28, line 11, leave out 'and subject to the following sub-paragraph'.

No. 60, in page 28, line 14, leave out sub-paragraph (2).

No. 61, in page 28, line 39, leave out from beginning to end of line 41.

No. 62, in page 29, line 18, leave out 'functions required by a direction under paragraph 1(1)' and insert 'a function required by virtue'.—[Mr. Hattersley.]

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