IMPERIAL INSTITUTE BILL. [H.L.] (Hansard, 7 July 1924)

§ THE UNDER-SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE COLONIES (LORD ARNOLD)

My Lords, I beg to move that this Report be now received. I will take this opportunity of saying two or three words which may facilitate the subsequent passage of the new Amendments. I am hopeful that the whole of those Amendments will occupy but a very few minutes, because I think that such a measure of agreement has been come to that the matter can be disposed of speedily. I wish at this stage to make a reference to the, observations of the Chairman of Committees when this matter was last considered by your Lordships. The Lord Chairman 267 spoke of three matters that he considered required the attention of the Government. His words have, of course, received, as they should receive, the most careful consideration from the Government, As a result two Amendments have been put down, and in regard to his last point on which he asked for an undertaking. I will give him an undertaking.

The first Amendment to be moved on Clause 1 meets the objection that under the Bill as first drafted the Government take powers to repeal the 1902 and 1916 Acts while stipulating in Clause 2 that the repeal in certain respects would not operate. The Amendment I propose will meet the wishes of the Lord Chairman in that matter. The other Amendment, which is also designed to meet his views, is on Clause 7, and enacts that an Order in Council relating to the Institute shall be laid before Parliament for not less than twenty-one days before it is submitted to His Majesty for approval. The third point to which he drew attention was that in Clause 9 there was no actual date when the Bill is to come into force. It said that the Bill should come into force on October 1, 1924, or such date as His Majesty may by Order in Council appoint. In response to the observation of the Lord Chairman I desire to state quite definitely and without any reservation on behalf of the Government that it is our intention that the Bill shall come into force as soon as possible.

I am afraid it is impossible for this Bill now to go down to another place and pass before the Recess, therefore it will have to be introduced in the House of Commons after the Recess, and by the leave of your Lordships I shall have to move an Amendment, not on the Order Paper, asking permission to change the month of October in Clause 9 to the month of December. I hope your Lordships will agree. It involves nothing except the delay which will be occasioned by the fact that the Bill has to go to another place after the Recess. The Bill will come into force, therefore, on December 1, or as soon as possible thereafter as the necessary arrangements can be made.