HL Deb 30 June 1948 vol 157 cc95-6

Clause 13, page 10, line 14, at end, insert— ("The approval by the Secretary of State of any premises for the purposes of this subsection shall have effect for such period as he may from time to time determine, but—

  1. (a) the Secretary of State may at any time withdraw his approval notwithstanding that the period for which it was given has not expired,
  2. (b) the Secretary of State shall not give or continue his approval for the purposes of this 96 subsection unless he is satisfied that suitable alternative accommodation is not for the time being available.")

THE LORD CHANCELLOR

My Lords, the next Amendment provides that the Secretary of State should not approve the use of any premises which I refer to, I am afraid, as workhouse nurseries, or continue his approval, unless he is plainly satisfied that there is no alternative accommodation. That, I am sure, will commend itself to your Lordships. I beg to move.

Moved, That this House do agree with the Commons in the said Amendment.—(The Lord Chancellor.)

LORD LLEWELLIN

My Lords, may I say a few words on this Amendment? We in this House were all rather hesitant about passing the clause in the form in which it left us. We all thought that the most stringent conditions ought to be applied before children were kept by local authorities in houses of this kind. I, for one, am very glad that the matter has been tightened up in this way.

On Question, Motion agreed to.