HL Deb 08 April 1924 vol 57 cc192-5

Order of the Day for the Third Reading read.

LORD LAMINGTON

I beg to move that this Bill be read a third time. By leave of the House, may I say, in making that Motion, that I should like to make an Amendment of the Bill, because I understood the other day on the Report stage that Clause 5, as passed in Committee, was being restored in its entirety, but by misapprehension, or rather, by my mistake in not telling the Clerk at the Table, the words "in the bar of" licensed premises have boon inserted. I should like to omit those words and restore the Kill to the position in which it was formerly, by the insertion of the word "upon" licensed premises, instead of "in the bar of."

Moved, That the Bill be now read 3a(Lord Lamington.)

On Question, Bill read 3a.

Children on licensed premises.

5. The prohibition of the presence of children in the bar of licensed premises contained in any Act for the time being in force shall apply to premises to which an "improved public-house" certificate is attached, unless the licensing justices deem it desirable, owing to the special circumstances of any premises, that a specified part of such premises should be open to children."

THE LORD CHANCELLOR

I should like to draw Lord Lamington's attention to the fact that he can only move an Amendment by the leave of the House. He has not given notice, but, if the Amendment is merely a verbal Amendment, it may be made, if the House assents.

LORD LAMINGTON

May I make my proposed Amendment now?

THE LORD CHANCELLOR

I understand the, noble Lord wishes to leave out the words "in the bar of," and insert "upon," which was discussed to some extent on the last occasion. The noble Lord can move that, with the assent of the House, on the footing that it is merely a verbal Amendment.

LORD LAMINGTON

Then I beg to move that Amendment.

Amendment moved— Clause 5, page 3, lines 13 and 14, leave out ("in the bar of") and insert ("upon").—(Lord Lamington.)

EARL BUXTON

This point was discussed at some length. Does the proposed Amendment alter in any possible way the conclusion that we arrived at?

LORD LAMINGTON

I wish to make the Amendment in conformity with the general opinion of the House expressed the other day. That is my object in moving it.

LORD STUART OF WORTLEY

As I have an Amendment which goes a little deeper than this, it is incumbent upon me to explain my position. The Amendment would not satisfy the desire I have to omit this clause altogether, because, as a matter of fact, there is at present no legal prohibition against sending a child to any part of licensed premises, except into the bar. We pat in these words "in the bar of" on the Report stage, because it was thought necessary, if you cited anything at all, to cite the substance of existing legislation.

THE LORD CHANCELLOR

I should draw the noble Lord's attention to the fact that the usual practice is to dispose of the Amendment, and then to put the Question that the clause stand part of the Bill.

THE EARL OF DONOUGHMORE

My Lords, I appeal to my noble friend to postpone this Amendment till to-morrow. We shall really get into an impossible state of affairs if any Amendments are moved on the Third Reading which have not been printed and circulated. This is the last chance we have of dealing with the Bill. I did not know this question was going to be raised, but I am sure I could have brought any number of cases to your Lordships' recollection, in which it has always been insisted that, whereas manuscript Amendments are allowed in Committee, and even on Report, it is not fair to ask the House to do this on Third Reading, and when we are going to sit for several days before we adjourn. I appeal to the noble Lord to allow this Amendment to be printed and circulated in the usual way.

LORD LAMINGTON

After the strong appeal of the Lord Chairman I must give way, but I only wanted to bring the Bill into conformity with the intention of the House as expressed the other day. I beg leave to withdraw the Amendment.

LORD STUART OF WORTLEY

We now come to my Amendment to leave out Clause 5, but I am willing that this should be postponed, to a future date.

THE LORD CHANCELLOR

It the noble Lord desires that it shall come on tomorrow his proper course is to move the adjournment of the debate.

LORD LAMINGTON

I beg to move that the debate be adjourned till Thursday.

Moved accordingly, and, on Question, Motion agreed to.