HC Deb 21 February 1984 vol 54 cc789-90
Mr. John MacKay

I beg to move amendment No. 3, in page 2, line 11, leave out subsection (2).

While subsection (2) is simply what is added by the other place, the traditional procedure of the House when a Bill has started in the other place means that that subsection is carried here. We remove it by the amendment.

Mr. Maxton

I accept that. However, that is a silly custom. Clause 2 states: There shall be paid out of moneys provided by Parliament an increase attributable to this Act. Clause 3 states: Nothing in this Act shall impose any charge on the people or on public funds". That is insane. It proves that we should not have that other place up the road.

Mr. Wilson

We should not have this place either.

Mr. Maxton

The hon. Member for Dundee, East (Mr. Wilson) says that we should not have this place either. In terms of Scottish legislation, he is right. It should be taken in a Scottish assembly elected by the Scottish people.

The Second Deputy Chairman of Ways and Means (Mr. Paul Dean)

Order. I know that we are reaching the end of the proceedings, but the hon. Member is now straying.

Mr. Maxton

The one thing that I find surprising about the financial aspect of the Bill — this is a financial clause — is that the hon. Member for Stirling (Mr. Forsyth), the guru of monetarist policies in Scotland, has not opened his mouth once to make a speech about a Bill which increases public finance and public intervention and imposes greater state control. I should have thought that he would have been demanding the privatisation of the Scottish tourist board and that it should be paid for by a levy on the tourist industry rather than be financed out of general taxation.

Question put, That the amendment be made:—

The House proceeded to a Division.

Mr. Lang and Mr. Sainsbury were appointed Tellers for the Ayes; but no Member being willing to act as Teller for the Noes, The Second Deputy Chairman declared that the Ayes had it.

Amendment agreed to.

Clause 3, as amended, ordered to stand part of the Bill.

Bill reported, with an amendment.

Question, That the Bill be now read the Third time, put and agreed to.

Bill accordingly read the Third time and passed, with an amendment.

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