§ 7.21 p.m.
§ Order of the Day for the Second Reading read.
§ LORD LINDGRENMy Lords, unless any of your Lordships so desires, I do not propose to go into a lengthy description of the various clauses of this Bill. It is a Private Member's Bill, introduced in another place by my honourable friend the Member for Islington, North. The Bill is approved by the Government, together with its Money Resolution, and has the support of the Minister of Local Government, the Minister of Health and the Secretary of State for Scotland. Therefore, I am certain that it will also commend itself to your Lordships.
The Bill amends the Local Government Act, 1948, to enable certain fares and expenses to be paid to members of local authorities who up to now have not been able to draw these expenses. It abolishes the three-mile limit for justices of the peace and members of hospital boards, hospital management committees and health executive committees. I ought to say that it meets 75 per cent. of what the local authority associations have been asking for for some considerable time. Therefore, I hope that the Bill will not only have an unopposed Second Reading but will also go through its remaining stages unaltered. I beg to move that the Bill be now read a second time.
§ Moved, That the Bill be now read 2a —(Lord Lindgren.)
THE JOINT PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY, MINISTRY OF HOUSING AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT (EARL JELLICOE)My Lords, the noble Lord, Lord Lindgren, has briefly but clearly explained the subject matter of the Bill. I do not think that I need add to what he has said, except to congratulate him on his sponsorship of the Bill and on the clear way in which he has explained it, but I feel that I should make the Government's attitude towards the Bill quite clear. I think that it can be stated simply. The Government think that this is a good Bill, a useful Bill, and one which your Lordships can safely approve.
§ On Question, Bill read 2a, and committed to a Committee of the Whole House.