§ 7.28 p.m.
§ Amendments reported (according to Order).
§ In the Title:
§ THE EARL OF SELKIRKMy Lords, in view of the new clause which was accepted to this Bill it is necessary to change the Title of the Bill. Accordingly, it is proposed that the words in the Amendment should be added to the Title. I beg to move.
§
Amendment moved—
After ("said organisation") insert ("; to provide for the superannuation of employees of the said Organisation.")—(The Earl of Selkirk.)
§ LORD SHEPHERDMy Lords, I have been looking at this Amendment, and I am a little mystified by it. If I try and explain my mystification, perhaps the noble Earl, Lord Selkirk, or the noble and learned Lord who sits on the Woolsack will be able to give me advice. In the Title of the Bill, as it now stands, you will find the following words:
… and for requiring the said Board"—that is, the Coal Board—to make certain payments to the said Organisation.…Those words seem to me to be of a general character, not limited in any way, and presumably they would meet the case of Clause 13. Clause 13 reads as follows:The Board shall from time to time pay to the Social Welfare Organisation by way of grant such sums as are necessary to enable that Organisation to meet the estimated cost 385 of any social welfare activities intended to be carried out by that Organisation; and all sums payable by the Board under this section shall be defrayed as part of the working expenses of the Board.In the Title we find the general authority, and I presume that the authority covers Clause 13. Yesterday we accepted an Amendment proposed by the noble Earl which enables this Organisation to bring within the category of persons entitled to superannuation persons appointed by the Organisation. To-day, we have the Amendment to the Title of the Bill, which limits the money to be paid by the Board to the Organisation for the purpose of covering the superannuation costs. I wish to know whether the noble Earl can tell me the meaning of this, or whether the noble and learned Lord on the Woolsack can tell me that the change, which circumscribes the Title, will make Clause 13 still workable.
§ THE EARL OF SELKIRKI have no doubt that the Amendment does not make Clause 13 unworkable. With great respect to the noble Lord, I do not think there is any question about that. The Amendment makes an addition to the Title, and I am quite at a loss to understand why the Title as standing here should be in any way restricted by the addition I am making.
§ THE LORD CHANCELLORThe noble Lord has overlooked the semicolon. It does not limit; it is an additional provision.
§ LORD SHEPHERDI stand to be corrected. I do not profess to be a lawyer. It seemed to me that the limitation which was being proposed might create an awkward situation. I am concerned only with that. If the noble and learned Lord who sits upon the Woolsack advises me to the contrary, of course I accept that.
§ THE LORD CHANCELLORI am reluctant to give an authoritative opinion about it, but if ever I was disposed to do so it would be in this case.