HL Deb 18 March 1941 vol 118 cc790-1
THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE COLONIES (LORD MOYNE)

My Lords, I beg to move the Motion standing in my name on the Order Paper.

Moved, That Standing Order No. XXXIX be considered in order to its being dispensed with, for the purpose of passing the War Damage Bill through its remaining stages.—(Lord Moyne.)

LORD RANKEILLOUR

My Lords, may I ask the Leader of the House what is the reason for this haste? Does he remember that the Third Reading always offers opportunity for Amendments in this House, though not in the other? During the passage of this Bill new and very important points have arisen, and, very properly, the representative of the Government has asked for time to consider them. If this Motion is now passed any new point that may arise in the debate to-day which cannot be immediately resolved will be lost. I venture to suggest that there is not such haste as all this for the Bill.

LORD MOYNE

My Lords, I am advised that it is very important that this Bill should pass. I am afraid I cannot give any details as to why it is considered so important, but it has been very specially requested that this House should pass the Bill at the very earliest possible moment. I think the noble Lord will be able to make any comments that may arise from what is decided to-day before the Bill does leave this House.

LORD MANCROFT

My Lords, has not the noble Lord overlooked the fact that one of the clauses in this Bill deals with private chattels and is a voluntary clause? One can only insure voluntarily, consequently it is of the utmost importance we should get this Bill through. If the Bill is not passed and if by any chance we should have an unfortunate raid and buildings or other property are destroyed, the people who have had their property destroyed will find themselves in great difficulty in establishing the fact that they wanted to insure, as this is a voluntary scheme. Therefore I hope the noble Lord will support this Motion.

LORD RANKEILLOUR

My Lords, of course I do not wish to obstruct business in any way and if it is really of such great importance that the Bill should pass through this House to-day I have no more to say.

LORD MOYNE

My Lords, I perhaps might explain to the noble Lord that it is proposed that the Amendments shall be taken in another place at an early date, and it would very much upset the time table if we were not to pass the Bill through this House to-day.

On Question, Motion agreed to, and ordered accordingly.