§
Clause 6, page 7, line 10, leave out paragraph (b) and insert—
("(b) provide, subject to such limitations and safeguards as may be specified, for conferring, in relation to particular premises, exemptions from the operation of specified provisions contained in regulations made for the purposes of paragraph (a) or paragraph (b) of the foregoing subsection' while there is in force a certificate of the local authority to the effect that compliance with those provisions cannot reasonably be required with respect to the premises or any activities carried on there.")
§ 2.58 p.m.
§ VISCOUNT WOOLTONMy Lords, this additional paragraph enables the Ministers to include in regulations dealing with the structure and equipment of premises a provision that local authorities may grant certificates to the occupiers of particular premises. This Amendment is necessary because regulations concerning the structure and equipment of premises will be couched in general terms applying to certain classes of business. There may, however, be individual premises where compliance would be impossible—for example, a canteen put up on some building site or on a site where constructional work was going on for an aerodrome. On many of these sites it is the practice for people using the canteen to bring their own utensils and to take them home to be washed there. The youth hostel in a rural area may be in a similar case. There they are accustomed to washing their pots and pans in the neighbouring stream. I beg to move that the House doth agree with the Commons in the said Amendment.
§ Moved, That this House doth agree with the Commons in the said Amendment—(Viscount Woolton.)
§ EARL JOWITTMy Lords, I must confess that I do not like this Amendment. I do not feel strongly enough about it to divide against it, but this is the sort of thing that we do not like in this House. It is a dispensing power conferred upon Ministers. I think that in principle that is wrong. If we are to have regulations they are the law of the land, and everybody ought to obey them. I think that to have regulations and then to have corresponding with those regulations Ministerial power exempting certain individuals from complying with those regulations is a had type of legislation. I am not happy about this Amendment. As I say, I do not propose to move any Motion against it, but I ant sure the noble and learned Viscount on the Woolsack would agree with me in that he would dislike this sort of principle just as much as I do. In broad and general principle, I think it is wrong and thoroughly undesirable, and may lead to all sorts of undesirable practices and habits. I content myself with putting it in that way, and I do not propose to do any more about it.
§ On Question, Motion agreed to.