HL Deb 19 November 1918 vol 32 cc206-8

Order of the Day for the House to be put into Committee, read.

Moved, That the House do now resolve itself into Committee.—(Viscount Peel.)

On Question, Motion agreed to.

House in Committee accordingly.

[The EARL OF DONOUGHMORE in the Chair.]

Clauses 1 and 2 agreed to.

THE JOINT PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY OF THE NATIONAL SERVICE DEPARTMENT (VISCOUNT PEEL)

My Lords, I beg to move the new clause which stands on the Paper in my name. This clause is necessary in order to wind up, as it were, the Administrative Expenses Act of 1917. When that is cleared out of the way the new machinery that is set up under this Bill will be able to take its place.

Amendment moved— After clause 2 insert the following new clause:

"Amendment of s. 1 (2) of 7 & 8 Geo. 5, c. 14.

".—(1) Where a council has failed to discharge in due course any of its functions under subsection (2) of section one of the Administrative Expenses Act, the Minisiter may by order declaring that the council has so failed appoint some person to discharge those functions in the place of the council, and the person so appointed shall by virtue of the order have power to discharge those functions accordingly.

"(2) A declaration contained in any such order to the effect that a council has so failed shall be conclusive evidence of the fact."—(Viscount Peel.)

On Question, Amendment agreed to.

Clause 3:

Amendment moved— Clause 3, page 4, line 10, leave out ("ten percent.") and insert ("one tenth").—(Viscount Peel.)

On Question, Amendment agreed to.

Clause 3, as amended, agreed to.

Clause 4:

Amendments moved:

Clause 4, page 4, line 30, leave out ("of Pensions")

Clause 4, page 4, line 33, leave out ("of Pensions").

Clause 4, page 5, line 15, leave out ("account") and insert ("accounts ").—(Viscount Peel)

On Question, Amendments agreed to.

Clause 4, as amended, agreed to.

Clauses 5 and 6 agreed to.

Clause 7:

VISCOUNT PEEL

The Amendments to Clause 7 on the Paper stand together. They are merely inserted in order to carry out an undertaking given in another place that the power of the Minister under the Special Grants Committee should be to some extent modified.

Amendments moved—

Clause 7, page 6, line 28, leave out from ("term") to ("of")

Clause 7, page 6, line 29, after ("office") insert ("not being less than three years")

Clause 7, page 6, line 31, at end insert as a new subsection:

"(3) If it is represented to the Minister by the special grants committee that any member of the committee is habitually absent from the meetings of the committee, the Minister may declare that that person has vacated his office as a member of the committee."

Clause 7, page 6, line 35, leave out ("of Pensions").—(Viscount Peel.)

On Question, Amendments agreed to.

Clause 7, as amended, agreed to.

Clause 8:

Amendment moved— Clause 8, page 7, line 9, leave out ("grant") and insert ("grants").—(Viscount Peel.)

On Question, Amendment agreed to.

Clause 8, as amended, agreed to.

Clause 9 agreed to.

Clause 10:

Amendment moved— Page 8, line 15, leave out ("at any time").—(Viscount Peel.)

On Question, Amendment agreed to.

Clause 10, as amended, agreed to.

Clause 11 agreed to.

Clause 12:

Amendment moved— Page 8, line 39, leave out ("Minister") and insert ("Commissioners of Works").—(Viscount Peel.)

On Question, Amendment agreed to.

Amendment moved— Page 8, line 40, after ("thereon") insert ("which the Minister may certify to be").—(Viscount Peel.)

On Question, Amendment agreed to.

Clause 12, as amended, agreed to.

Clause 13 agreed to.

Clause 14:

Amendment moved— Page 9, line 27, after ("Pensions") insert ("&c.").—(Viscount Peel.)

On Question, Amendment agreed to.

Clause 14, as amended, agreed to.

Clauses 15 and 16 agreed to.

Clause 17:

Amendment moved— Page 10, line 9, at the end insert ("and the expression 'Ministry' means 'Ministry of Pensions'").—(Viscount Peel.)

On Question, Amendment agreed to.

Amendment moved— Page 10, line 24, after ("are") insert ("except so far as relates to the administrative expenses of committees incurred before the 1st day of January nineteen hunded and nineteen").—(Viscount Peel.)

On Question, Amendment agreed to.

Clause 17, as amended, agreed to.

Then (Standing Order No. XXXIX having been suspended) Amendments reported; Bill read 3a and passed, and returned to the Commons.