HL Deb 10 August 1920 vol 41 cc1165-7

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

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

On Question, Motion agreed to.

House in Committee accordingly.

[THE EARL OF DONOLIGFIMORE in the Chair.]

Clause 1 agreed to.

Clause 2:

THE PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY OF THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH (VISCOUNT AST0R)

My Lords, owing to a misunderstanding there are one or two small Amendments to this Bill which were not circulated to your Lordships. The first Amendment that I have to move is in subsection (1) of Clause 2, to leave out the words "within six months of this Act coming into operation" and to insert "within twelve months after the passing of this Act prepare and submit to the Minister of Health any scheme for the exercise of their powers under this section." Your Lordships will remember that a duty has been imposed upon county councils to make provision for the blind, and the Bill has provided that they are to be given six months in which they are to prepare schemes. My right hon. friend the Minister for Health had intended to accept an Amendment on the Report stage in the House of Commons increasing that period to twelve months, but unfortunately the Member who had put the proposal down on the Paper was not present. I am therefore asking your Lordships to insert it in the Bill now. I may say that this has the support of the County Councils Association.

Amendment moved— Page". 1, lines 20 and 21, leave out ("within six months of this Act coming into operation") and insert ("within twelve months after the passing of this Act prepare and submit to the Minister of Health a scheme for the exercise of their powers under this section").—(Viscount Astor.)

On Question, Amendment agreed to.

Clause 2, as amended, agreed to.

Clause 3 agreed to.

Clause 4:

VISCOUNT ASTOR

I have to move a certain number of Amendments to this clause which are purely drafting—they have been sent to me by the Scottish Office—in order to make the Bill applicable to Scotland.

Amendments moved—

Page 4, lines 19 to 21, leave out ("the section relating to the power of local authorities to promote welfare of blind persons") and insert ("Section 2")

Page 4, line 21, leave out ("paragraph (c)") and insert ("paragraphs (d) and (e)")

Page 4, lines 21 and 22, leave out ("the section relating to charities for the blind") and insect ("Section 3")

Page 4, after line 23 insert the following new paragraph: ("(b) the following subsection shall be substituted for subsection (6) of Section 2: (6) Education authorities under the Education (Scotland) Act, 1918, shall make or otherwise secure adequate and suitable provision for the technical education of blind persons ordinarily resident in their areas who are capable of receiving and being benefited by such education").(Viscount Astor.)

On Question, Amendments agreed to.

Clause 4, as amended, agreed to.

Clause 5:

Amendment moved— Page 5, line 9, leave out ("sixth day of August") and insert ("tenth day of September").—(Viscount Astor.)

On Question, Amendment agreed to.

Clause 5, as amended, agreed to.

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