§ Lords amendment: No. 31, in page 46, line 23, after "For" insert "paragraphs (a) to (d) of'.
§ Mr. Michael MarshallI beg to move, That this House doth agree with the Lords in the said amendment.
§ Mr. Deputy SpeakerWith this, it will be convenient to take Lords amendments Nos. 32 to 34, 38, 87 and 89 to 92.
§ Mr. MarshallThis group of amendments, while appearing rather complicated, in fact perform a simple function and—I hope it will be agreed—a useful one. At present this clause, which sets out the powers of the new Post Office, is due to come into operation on the appointed day. However, the Post Office has told us that it would like to take advantage of its new power to provide counter services for nationalised industries before that day. These amendments provide that this power, particularly under section 7(1)(f) of the 1969 Act, as inserted by clause 58(1), will come into effect on Royal Assent.
I am sure that all hon. Members will agree that the Post Office should be allowed to avail itself of this new power at the earliest possible opportunity, and will accept the amendments.
§ Question put and agreed to.
§ Lords amendments Nos. 32 to 34 agreed to.
§ Lords amendment: No. 35, in page 47, line 43, leave out "by whomsoever run".
§ Mr. Michael MarshallI beg to move, That this House doth agree with the Lords in the said amendment.
§ Mr. Deputy SpeakerWith this it will be convenient to take Lords amendments Nos. 36 and 37.
§ Mr. MarshallThese three amendments to the definition of "telepost service" in clause 58 are merely drafting. They put beyond doubt that the Post Office may transmit telepost messages by a telecommunications system no matter who runs the system; that is, it will not be confined to using its own system.
§ Question put and agreed to.
§ Lords amendments Nos. 36, 37 and 38 agreed to.