HL Deb 28 July 1953 vol 183 cc997-8

After Clause 5, page 5. line 11, at end insert the following new clause—

Exemption of certain women from Midwives Act, 1951

(".—(1) Regulation thirty-three of the Defence (General) Regulations 1939 (which empowers a local supervising authority within the meaning of the Midwives Act, 1951, by order to exempt from the provisions of that Act for such period and subject to such conditions as may be specified in the order any such women who surrendered their certificates under subsection (1) of section five of the Midwives Act, 1936, as may be named in the order), is hereby revoked, but any order under that Regulation which, at the commencement of this Act, is in force with respect to a woman shall have effect with respect to her by virtue of this section, and shall so have effect with the omission there from of the provisions thereof limiting the period for which exemption from the provisions of the said Act of 1951 is thereby conferred.

(2) It shall be a condition of the exemption conferred on a woman by an order having effect by virtue of this section that she shall comply with any rules for the time being in force under section four of the Midwives Act, 1951, regulating, supervising and restricting within due limits the practice of certified midwives.

(3) The authority who made an order having effect by virtue of this section may at any time revoke the order either in whole or so far as it relates to a particular woman.

(4) A woman named in an order having effect by virtue of this section shall, while the order is in force with respect to her, be deemed for the purposes of subsection (2) of section twenty-three of the National Health Service Act, 1946 (which imposes on a local health authority the duty of securing for its area an adequate midwifery and maternity nursing service) to be a certified midwife.")

THE LORD CHANCELLOR

My Lords, the purpose and scope of this Amendment can shortly be stated thus. It has the effect of revoking the Defence (General) Regulation 33, whilst at the same time permitting some twenty qualified midwives, in respect of whom orders have been made under the regulation, to continue to practise; and nothing more than that. These were women who voluntarily surrendered their certificates within three years of the commencement of the Midwives Act, 1936, and received compensation under the terms of that Act. It was essential during the war that they should not be debarred from practising, and since some of them are still under fifty years of age, it is desirable that they should be able to continue in service for a number of years yet. Hardship would be caused to them, and some detriment to the midwifery services in the areas in which they practise, if that were not so. I could expand this matter further if it were necessary, but I think your Lordships will be satisfied that this is a wise Amendment to the Bill. I beg to move.

Moved, That this House do agree with the Commons in the said Amendment.

On Question, Motion agreed to.