Lords Sitting of 27 July 1944

Preamble
The House met, The LORD CHANCELLOR on the Woolsack.
Prayers.

ELECTORAL REGISTRATION REGULATIONS, 1944.
Report from the Special Orders Committee, That they have examined the Special Order as required by the Standing Orders of the House; that in their opinion the provisions of the Order raise important questions of policy and principle which have been accepted already by the House when passing the Parliamentary Electors (War-Time Registration) Acts, 1943 and 1944, under which the Order is submitted for approval; that the Order is founded on precedent inasmuch as similar regulations have been submitted for approval by Parliament; that in the opinion of the Committee the Order cannot be passed by the House without special attention, but that no further inquiry is necessary before the House proceeds to a decision on the Resolution to approve the said Order:
Read, and ordered to lie on the Table.

PENSIONS (INCREASE) ACT (EXTENSION) ORDER, 1944.
Report from the Special Orders Committee, That they have examined the Special Order as required by the Standing Orders of the House; that in their opinion the provisions of the Order raise questions of policy and principle which have been accepted already by the House when passing the Pensions (Increase) Act, 1944, under which the Order is submitted for approval; that the Order is not founded on precedent inasmuch as this is the first Order that has been submitted for the approval of Parliament under that Act; that in the opinion of the Committee the Order cannot be passed by the House without special attention, subject to any arguments on the merits which may arise in debate; and that no special inquiry is
1182
necessary before the House proceeds to a decision on the Resolution to approve the said Order:
Read, and ordered to lie on the Table.

ACCOMMODATION IN THE PALACE OF WESTMINSTER.
Evidence taken before the Joint Committee from time to time to be printed, but no copies to be delivered out except to members of the Committee until further notice.

ANGLESEY COUNTY COUNCIL (WATER, ETC.) BILL).
THE CHAIRMAN OF COMMITTEES (LORD STANMORE): My Lords, I have to ask your Lordships to dispense with Standing Order No. 173 in order that the Bill should be read a third time. According to the Standing Order all local Bills in which Amendments have been made in Committee should be reprinted as amended before the Third Reading. In this case the agents inform me that it is not possible to reprint. Deposit of copies of the Bills at various Government Departments, as required by the Standing Order, has been made. I beg to move that Standing Order No. 173 be considered in order to its being dispensed with.
Moved, That Standing Order No. 173 be considered in order to its being dispensed with in respect of the Bill.—(Lord Stanmore.)
On Question, Motion agreed to, and ordered accordingly.
Bill read 3a, with the Amendments; further Amendments made; Bill passed, and returned to the Commons.

MIDDLESEX COUNTY COUNCIL BILL.
LORD STANMORE: My Lords, I beg to move that Standing Order No. 173 be considered in order to its being dispensed with in respect of this Bill also.
Moved, That Standing Order No. 173 be considered in order to its being dispensed with in respect of the Bill.—[Lord Stanmore.]
On Question, Motion agreed to, and ordered accordingly.
Bill read 3a, with the Amendments; further Amendments made; Bill passed, and returned to the Commons.

FIRE SERVICE REGULATIONS.
LORD ADDISON: My Lords, may I ask His Majesty's Government a private notice question—namely, whether they can now say what steps, if any, will be required to rectify the position relating to the Fire Service Regulations, which were not laid before Parliament?
THE PARLIAMENTARY UNDER-SECRETARY OF STATE FOR INDIA AND BURMA (THE EARL OF MUNSTER): My Lords, I am obliged to the noble Lord. His Majesty's Government have decided to submit to Parliament without any delay a Bill of Indemnity. I do not propose at this moment to discuss the legal position but my right honourable friend the Secretary of State for the Home Department, after consulting the Attorney-General, is clear that on general and constitutional grounds the course which I have stated is the proper one. It is, in my right honourable friend's view, right that Parliament should be given a proper opportunity of dealing with the matter in a Parliamentary Bill.
LORD ADDISON: I take it that some means will be provided for dealing with the cases of people who have been prosecuted, perhaps fined, or may be imprisoned, under these regulations, which have no legal sanction. Further, is it proposed to pass the Bill of Indemnity before we rise for the Recess?
THE EARL OF MUNSTER: My Lords, subject to what my noble friend on the Woolsack may say, I understand it is the intention, by passing a Bill of Indemnity, to legalize the fines or other penalties which have been imposed on individuals who have broken these regulations. In answer to the noble Lord's other question,
1184
I understand that it is the intention to pass this Bill before the House rises for the Recess.

FOOD AND DRUGS (MILK AND DAIRIES) BILL.
Read 3a (according to Order), and passed.

DIPLOMATIC PRIVILEGES (EXTENSION) BILL [H.L.]
Read 3a (according to Order), and passed, and sent to the Commons.
House adjourned during pleasure.
House resumed.

ROYAL COMMISSION.
The Royal Assent was given to the following Bills:

Rural Water Supplies and Sewerage,

Isle of Man (Customs),

Agriculture (Miscellaneous Provisions),

Food and Drugs (Milk and Dairies),

Gillingham Corporation,

Ascot District Gas and Electricity,

Wisbech Corporation,

Loughborough Corporation.

House adjourned during pleasure.
House resumed.

EDUCATION BILL.
Returned from the Commons, with certain of the Amendments agreed to; certain others agreed to with Amendments and with consequential Amendments to the Bill; an Amendment disagreed to but an Amendment made in lieu thereof; and certain others disagreed to, with Reasons for such disagreement. The said Amendments and Reasons to be printed and to be considered on Tuesday next.
House adjourned.