Lords Sitting of 25 February 1932

Preamble
The House met at a quarter past four of the clock, The LORD CHANCELLOR on the Woolsack.
WESTON-SUPER-MARE GRAND PIER BILL. [H.L.]
Read 2a.

DARLINGTON GAS ORDER, 1932.
LORD TEMPLEMORE: My Lords, I beg to move the Motion standing in my name on the Paper.
Moved, That the Special Orders, as reported from the Special Orders Committee on Tuesday last, be approved.—(Lord Templemore.)
On Question, Motion agreed to.
GOWER ELECTRICITY ORDER, 1931.>
NEWCASTLE-UPON-TYNE ELECTRI CITY (AMENDMENT) ORDER, 1931.
NOTTING HILL ELECTRICITY (EX TENSION) ORDER, 1931.
WESTMORLAND AND DISTRICT ELECTRICITY ORDER, 1932.
WEST USK ELECTRICITY ORDER, 1932.
THE EARL OF PLYMOUTH: My Lords, with reference to these five Orders I beg to move the Motion standing on the Paper in my name.
Moved, That the Special Orders, as reported from the Special Orders Committee on Tuesday last, be approved.—(The Earl of Plymouth.)
On Question, Motion agreed to.

UNIVERSITIES (SCOTLAND) BILL. [H.L.]
LORD STRATHCONA AND MOUNT ROYAL: My Lords, I beg leave to introduce a Bill to transfer to the University Courts the right of presentation or appointment to certain chairs or professorships in the faculties of divinity or theology in the Universities of Scotland, to remove restrictions as regards
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appointment to chairs or professorships in the said Universities, to extend the powers of the University Courts of the said Universities with regard to the making of ordinances, and for purposes connected therewith; and to move that it be read a first time.
Mover, That the Bill be now read 1a.—(Lord Strathcona and Mount Royal.)
On Question, Bill read la, and to be printed.

MINISTRY OF HEALTH PROVISIONAL ORDER (MAIDSTONE EXTENSION) BILL.
Read 3a (according to Order), and passed.
MINISTRY OF HEALTH PROVISIONAL ORDER (SITTINGBOURNE AND MILTON) BILL.
Read 3a (according to Order), and passed.
DESTRUCTIVE IMPORTED ANIMALS BILL. [H.L.]
House in Committee (according to Order): Bill reported without amendment.
DANGEROUS DRUGS BILL. [H.L.]
Amendment reported (according to Order).

GREY SEALS PROTECTION BILL. [H.L.]
Order of the Day for the Third Reading read.
LORD STRATHCONA AND MOUNT ROYAL: My Lords, a question was raised by the noble Lord, Lord Mount Temple, as regards the period of time for which an order must be laid before Parliament under this Bill. I have gone into this question afresh and find that when the period was increased from twenty-eight to forty-eight days, in response to an Amendment moved last Session by the noble Lord, Lord Danes-fort, it was recognised that some difficulty might attach to the longer period in that it would necessitate the laying of an order in, say, early June if that order was to become effective during the

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ensuing close season. As any investigation which might form the basis of such an order would have to be undertaken during the close season, it was decided that the Departments concerned would not be seriously inconvenienced by procedure necessitating the making of an order in the spring or early summer, and as importance was attached to this Amendment the Government decided to accept it.
In another place an Amendment was put down to extend the period to ninety days. This would have involved laying an order in April and would have seriously curtailed the time available for considering any report of investigations made in the preceding November or December. This Amendment was, therefore, resisted and withdrawn. Accordingly, while agreeing that the usual period of twenty-eight days should, in any normal case be quite sufficient, the Government preferred that the decision taken on the last Bill should be adhered to. I think that meets the point raised by Lord Mount Temple.
The noble Lord, Lord Lovat, raised the question of the county councils and the administration of the Act. I would point out that whereas on the question of the
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protection of birds, to which the noble Lord referred, it is far easier for the local authorities to undertake these duties, the question of grey seals is rather different and really can be better dealt with by the authorities in Scotland—more particularly the Fishery Board; and for that reason, although welcoming the co-operation of the county councils in this matter, it is thought to be best to leave the Bill as it stands.
Moved, That the Bill be now read 3a.—(Lord Strathcona and Mount Royal.)
LORD MOUNT TEMPLE: My Lords, I thank the noble Lord for so kindly giving me this full explanation. I still think that the period of twenty-eight days would be far better and fairer to the Department, and I gather that the Department is of the same opinion. But no one wants to do anything to imperil the passage of the Bill in another place, and if it is thought that the period of forty-eight days is the best way of securing its passage I at once will withdraw any objection I might have.
On Question, Bill read 3a, and passed, and sent to the Commons.
The House adjourned at twenty-five minutes past four o'clock.