HC Deb 23 July 1991 vol 195 c1101

Lords amendment: No. 19, in page 16, line 4, leave out from second "to" to end of line 5 and insert have a reasonable prospect of securing that the objective of the proposal is achieved.

7.45 pm
Mr. McLoughlin

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

Mr. Deputy Speaker

With this, it will be convenient to consider Lords amendments Nos. 20, 24 and 25.

Mr. McLoughlin

These amendments are intended to clarify the drafting of one aspect of the provision that the Bill makes enabling port authorities to repay the costs incurred by their management and employees in attempting to buy out the authority's successor company.

It may perhaps be the case that more than one group of a port's management and employees attempt to buy the company and, if that were so, it would clearly be unsatisfactory if the authority ended up providing financial support for several competing bids, one or more of which would, inevitably, be unsuccessful.

Ms. Walley

I do not wish to detain the House any longer on this issue. However, it is important for me to point out that the Opposition would have preferred the option of some involvement of independent advisers. Nevertheless, the amendments represent a tightening up of the measure. We therefore do not intend to oppose the amendments.

Question put and agreed to.

Subsequent Lords amendments agreed to. [Some with Special Entry.]

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