§ Order of the Day for the Second Reading read.
§ THE FIRST LORD OF THE ADMIRALTY (LORD LEE OF FAREHAM)My Lords, this is a measure which, I think, is entirely non-contentious, and, indeed, is so small that it must be the exception which proves the rule—de minimis non carat lex. The only point arises in connection with Clause 4 of the Greenwich Hospital Act of 1872, under which the Admiralty may provide for the education and maintenance of daughters of warrant officers, non-commissioned officers and men of the Royal Navy and Marines, subject to the following restriction:—" The amount expended under this section on the education and maintenance of any girl shall not exceed the rate of £20 a year." Since that Act was passed, as we are all painfully aware, the cost of living and everything else has gone up considerably, and the authorities concerned state, and I think fairly state, that it is impossible to provide for the education of a girl under proper conditions for £20 a year. Therefore, they ask that this restriction may be removed. This is not a case of calling for any assistance from the taxpayer, because the money is available ii the hands of the Greenwich Hospital Commissioners, and all they ask is that they nay be allowed to spend a little more of their money upon this purpose. There is no charge upon the Exchequer It is 470 simply a matter of removing a small Statutory restriction which prevents the education of these children being proceeded with. I beg to move.
§ Moved, that the Bill be now read 2a— (Lord Lee of Fareham.)
§ On Question, Bill read 2a, and committed to a Committee of the whole House.