COMMONS AMENDMENT (Hansard, 30 July 1951)

§ LORD MACDONALD OF GWAENYSGOR
My Lords, the reason I did not move the whole of the drafting Amendments at once is that the noble Lord, Lord Llewellin, intimated to me, just prior to the meeting of the House, that he is concerned at this Amendment being regarded as drafting only. The noble Lord puts a different meaning on the words "consigned" and "delivered," and would like to know why the change has been made. In the short time available to me, I tried to find out the reason for the change which was made in the Commons, but I failed to secure a satisfactory answer. I then looked up the Report of the debate in another place on 12 this group of Amendments, and I noticed that they were moved to clarify the position in regard to consignments. I feel that this is not a very satisfactory explanation to the noble Lord, Lord Llewellin, but that is all I can give him at the moment. I beg to move that this House do agree with the Commons in the said Amendment.

§ LORD LLEWELLIN
My Lords, I thank the noble Lord for doing his best. As I read them, I have no objection to any of the other Amendments. Your Lordships will see that the words in the Bill are: The occupier of any premises registered under this Act shall keep records of all consignments of filling materials to which this Act applies delivered to the premises … For the word "delivered" we are now inserting the word "consigned." But it does not follow that a parcel of rag flock that is consigned to premises ever gets there. That is the simple purport of my question. In the Bill as it left us, the occupier had only to keep records of what came into his possession, which I should have thought was right. Now he has to start his record, I suppose, as soon as he receives the consignment note; and whether the goods ultimately follow, one does not know. It is not a very important point, and, the noble Lord having done his best, I think we should agree to the Amendment. However, in passing, I would say that I think it is only due to the noble Lord that some appropriate official from the Department concerned with this measure might have been here to advise him on an occasion like this. I am content to leave it at that, so long as the noble Lord promises that he will pass on my comment to the Department concerned. I think the officials ought to attend, so that noble Lords are properly briefed on any small point which may arise in the course of debate.

§ LORD MACDONALD OF GWAENYSGOR
My Lords, with your Lordships' permission, I should like to say how pleased I am that the noble Lord has adopted that attitude. I have my advisers here, but this is an Amendment which was drafted by the draftsman, and it is the draftsman himself who is not here. This Amendment was accepted in 13 another place. I am satisfied myself that the inquiry is a sound inquiry, and I would distinguish between "deliver" and "consign." However, as I say, the Amendment was agreed to in another place, and I am glad that the noble Lord feels able to accept it without any further inquiry.