FIRE SERVICES BILL. (Hansard, 24 July 1947)

HL Deb 24 July 1947 vol 151 cc353-5 353

§ 4.25 p.m.

§ Read 3^a (according to Order) with the Amendments.

§ Clause 13 [Transitional Provisions]:

§ LORD WALKDEN moved to leave out Clause 13. The noble Lord said: My Lords, before asking for your consent to the passing of this Amendment, I would draw your Lordships' attention to the fact that we have found it necessary to bring in a further page of Amendments in order to make it what is sometimes called a good and perfect Act of Parliament. I would explain that the need for these further Amendments has arisen from two or three causes.

§ The first Amendment is rather large but quite simple. The noble Lord, Lord Addington, suggested during the Report stage that Clause 13, which contains all the provisions for the transitional arrangements and which runs to a good many pages, would be better put at the end of the Bill as a Schedule, because it will only be of temporary value, and it would be better and more shapely to have it at the end. Therefore, my first Amendment will be to annul Clause 13, and later I shall move to provide a new Fifth Schedule. Then there are several further smaller Amendments which Lord Morrison will move. They are chiefly designed to include reference to Scottish Acts of Parliament which have been passed only this year and which should be referred to in this Bill. I now beg to move that we leave out Clause 13.

§ Amendment moved—

§ Leave out Clause 13.—(Lord Walliden.)

354

§ LORD LLEWELLIN
My Lords, there is one question I should like to ask on this. I have not read all through the new Schedule which is to come in after the Fourth Schedule. Do I understand that that is verbatim the same as the clause which the noble Lord is moving to leave out?

LORD WALKDEIN
Substantially, it is the same, but there have been a few minor improvements in the drafting and one reference under which, if there are disputes about pensions and a question is unsettled, it can be settled by the Secretary of State. That is, I am informed, all the new matter contained in the revised Schedule.

§ On Question, Amendment agreed to Clause 37 [Application to Scotland]:

§ LORD MORRISON
My Lords, his Amendment, and the next seven, are drafting Amendments to Clause 37 and as the noble Lord has just explained, they are all drafting Amendments consequential on the passing of the Local Government (Scotland) Act, and the Acquisition of Land (Authorisation Procedure) (Scotland) Act. I beg to move.

§ Amendment moved— Page 35, line 34, leave out from ("Act") to ("and") in line 35 and insert ("1947 —(Lord Morrison.)

§ LORD LLEWELLIN
My Lords, in our great friendship, would not it be better if the Scottish Office looked rather earlier at what the Home Office is doing and could get the Amendment to us before Third Reading?

§ LORD MORRISON
I will certainly convey that to the Scottish Office.