HL Deb 29 July 1919 vol 35 cc1139-42

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

LORD PARMOOR

My Lords, before we go into Committee upon this Bill I think it would save the time of the House if I state that I am prepared to accept all the Amendments which are to be moved by the noble Viscount, Lord Peel, on behalf of the Government. Then, I understand, the Amendments may be put en bloc instead of separately. I think that all the Amendments are improvements in the Bill, introduced partly by the substitution of the Ministry of Health for the Local Government Board, and partly by improvements in local government matters which could be adjusted much more easily by a Department than any Bill promoted by a private member. I regret, however, that, as regards the principle of free postage the Government have not been able to accept it, because I believe that in the Scottish elections it was regarded that an Amendment of this kind would have been an advantage. But that is a matter upon which I will not insist. It is not, perhaps, a matter for your Lordships' House, but for the House of Commons. In any case, it might have been held to be within the "breach of privilege" principle had it been moved in this House. I thank the noble Viscount for the Amendments he has put down, and I am prepared to accept them as they stand.

Moved, That the House do now resolve itself into Committee.—(Lord Parmoor.).

On Question, Motion agreed to.

House in Committee accordingly.

[The EARL OF KINTORE in the Chair.]

VISCOUNT PEEL

My Lords, it so happens that by a remarkable coincidence my noble friend the promoter of the Bill is ready to accept en bloc all the Amendments I have put down. As these Amendments satisfy the promoter I think I may assume that they will also suit other members of your Lordships' House, and I might therefore be allowed to move them en bloc. I have only one observation to make, and that is that certain powers are being conferred on the Ministry of Health. That, of course, is merely a case of the existing powers of the late Local Government Board with regard to elections and the conduct of elections being transferred to the Ministry of Health, which Department is now charged with these functions. I suggest that these powers would best be handed over for the present to the Ministry of Health. With the assent of your Lordships, I beg to move these Amendments en bloc.

Clause 1:

Amendments moved—

Clause 1, page 1, lines 6 and 7, leave out ("passed by a majority of") and insert ("agreed to at a meeting of the Council by not less than")

Clause 1, page 1, line 9, leave out from ("passed") to ("and") in line 10, and insert ("either within two years after the second or within two years after the third ordinary election of councillors held in accordance with this Act")

Clause 1, page 1, line 14, leave out from ("before") to ("notice") in line 15, and insert ("the meeting of the Council")

Clause 1, page 1, line 16, leave out ("given") and insert ("sent by post")

Clause 1, page 1, line 17, leave out from ("council") to the end of subsection (3)

Clause 1, page 1, line 21, after ("sent") insert ("forthwith")

Clause 1, page 1, line 22, leave out ("Local Government Board") and insert ("Minister of Health")

Clause 1, page 2, line 3, leave out ("by lot") and leave out ("Local Government Board") and insert ("Minister of Health").—(Viscount Peel.)

On Question, Amendments agreed to.

Clause 1 as Amended, agreed to.

Clause 2:

Amendments moved—

Clause 2, page 2, line 6, leave out from ("shall") to the end of line 7, and insert ("have effect")

Clause 2, page 2, line 9, after ("adoption") insert ("not being less in the case of a county or district council than two months before the next ordinary day of retirement of councillors")

Clause 2, page 2, line 19, leave out ("election") and insert ("retirement of councillors")

Clause 2, page 2, line 16, leave out ("Local Government Board after consultation with") and insert ("Minister of Health on the application of")

Clause 2, page 2, line 25, leave out ("Local Government Board, and") and insert ("Minister of Health, but")

Clause 2, page 2, line 26, leave out from ("authority") to ("in") in line 28, and insert ("shall not be increased or reduced except to such extent (if any) as appears to the Minister of Health to be necessary")

Clause 2, page 2, line 31, after ("Act") insert ("1918")

Clause 2, page 2, line 32, leave out from ("candidates") to end of subsection (4) and insert ("as set out in a modified form in the Schedule to this Act, shall apply in relation to any election to which this Act applies")

Clause 2, page 3, lines 1 to 6, leave out subsection (5)

Clause 2, page 3, line 6, at end insert: ("(5) On the ordinary day of election of aldermen in the year in which the first ordinary election of councillors is held under this Act, the aldermen of any county or borough who are next due to retire shall go out of office, and on the same date in the year of the second ordinary election the remaining aldermen of that county or borough shall go out of office, and their places shall in both instances be filled by newly elected aldermen").—(Viscount Peel.)

On Question, Amendments agreed to.

Clause 2, as amended, agreed to.

Clause 3:

Amendments moved—

Clause 3, page 3, line 11, leave out from beginning to ("regulations") in line 12, and insert ("the Minister of Health shall make")

Clause 3, page 3, line 17, after ("thereto") insert ("in such manner as may appear to the Minister to be necessary in order to bring such provisions into conformity with the provisions of this Act")

Clause 3, page 3, line 19, leave out ("therewith") and insert ("with any election to which this Act applies")

Clause 3, page 3, line 21, at end insert ("The Minister of Health may also make such regulations as to the alteration of electoral areas and other matters as may be necessary in any case where a resolution adopting this Act is rescinded by a local authority. (2) If any difficulty arises as to the holding of the first election of councillors or aldermen of any authority in accordance with this Act, or the first election of councillors or aldermen of any local authority after any resolution adopting this Act has been rescinded, the Minister of Health may, by order, do any matter or thing which appears to him necessary for the proper holding of the election").

Clause 3, page 3, line 22, leave out ("Local Government Board") and insert ("Minister of Health").—(Viscount Peel.)

On Question, Amendments agreed to.

Clause 3, as amended, agreed to.

Amendment moved— After Clause 3, insert the following new clause:

"Local inquiries.

". The minister may cause such local inquiries to be made for the purposes of this Act as appears to him necessary or expedient, and section eighty-seven of the Local Government Act, 1888, shall apply in relation to any such inquiries, with the necessary modifications, and in particular, with the substitution of the Minister of Health for the Local Government Board."—(Viscount Peel.)

On Question, Amendment agreed to.

Clause 4:

Amendment moved— Clause 4, page 3, line 37, after ("including") insert ("the Common Council of the City of London and").—(Viscount Peel.)

On Question, Amendment agreed to.

Clause 4, as amended, agreed to.

Clause 5:

Amendments moved—

Clause 5, page 4, line 7, leave out ("and")

Clause 5, page 4, line 8, leave out ("Local Government Board") and insert. ("Minister of Health; and section ninety-three of the Local Government (Scotland) Act, 1889, shall be substituted for section eighty-seven of the Local Government Act, 1888").—(Viscount Peel.)

On Question, Amendments agreed to.

Clause 5, as amended, agreed to.

Remaining clause agreed to.

Amendment moved— Page 4, insert the following schedule:—

Forward to