§ 3.35 p.m.
§ Order of the Day for the House to be again in Committee read.
§ Moved, That the House do now resolve itself into Committee.—(Lord Mills.)
§ On Question, Motion agreed to.
§ House in Committee accordingly.
§ [The LORD MERTHYR in the Chair.]
§ Clause 18 [Financial duty of Boards]:
§
Amendment moved—
Page 18, line 32, leave out ("Inland Waterways Authority") and insert ("British Waterways Board").—(Lord Chesham.)
§ On Question, Amendment agreed to.
§ Clause 18, as amended, agreed to.
§ Clause 19 [Borrowing powers of Boards]:
§ LORD CHESHAMThese are two further "Waterways" Amendments. I beg to move them both.
§ Amendments moved—
§ Page 19, line 45, leave out ("Inland Waterways Authority") and insert ("British Waterways Board).
§ Page 20, line 19, leave out ("Inland Waterways Authority") and insert ("British Waterways Board").—(Lord Chesham.)
§ On Question, Amendments agreed to.
§ Clause 19, as amended, agreed to.
§ Clauses 20 to 22 agreed to.
§ Clause 23:
§ Special provision for Inland Waterways Authority
§ 23.—(1) The Minister may, with the approval of the Treasury, out of money provided by Parliament make grants to the Inland Waterways Authority to meet any deficit on their revenue account arising during the period of five years beginning with the vesting date.
§ LORD CHESHAMI beg to move.
§
Amendment moved—
Page 22, line 41, leave out ("Inland Waterways Authority") and insert ("British Waterways Board").—(Lord Chesham.)
§ On Question, Amendment agreed to.
278§ LORD SHEPHERDWe are in some difficulties this afternoon. My noble friend Lord Lucan, in whose name this Amendment appears on the Paper, is, fortunately for him but unfortunately for us, in Rhodesia, where he is celebrating a major family event. My noble friend Lord Stonham, whom I asked to move this Amendment, unfortunately cannot be here until later on. It is an Amendment of some importance, and I therefore do not propose to discuss it now, or Amendment No. 81, but we will raise them on Report stage.
However, before sitting down, I would say that on my way to the House I noted newspaper bills to the effect that there had been a major rail disaster on the Continent; and, since we are dealing with a Transport Bill, I thought it would be appropriate if we were to express our very great regret that there should have been a loss of nearly 60 lives on the Continent in this rail disaster. This, perhaps, is the price that has to be paid for fast travel, but when it does it is very heavy, whether it is in this country or elsewhere.
§
Amendment moved—
Page 22, line 43, leave out ("five") and insert ("ten").—(Lord Shepherd.)
§ THE MINISTER WITHOUT PORTFOLIO (LORD MILLS)With your Lordships permission, I should like to associate myself with the sympathy expressed by the noble Lord, Lord Shepherd.
§ LORD SHEPHERDI beg leave to withdraw the Amendment.
§ Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.
§ LORD CHESHAMI beg to move.
§
Amendment moved—
Page 23, line 2, leave out ("Inland Waterways Authority") and insert ("British Waterways Board").—(Lord Chesham.)
§ On Question, Amendment agreed to.
§ LORD MILLSIn order that the Foreign Secretary may make a statement, I beg to move that the House do now resume.
§ Moved, That the House do now resume.—(Lord Mills.)
§ On Question, Motion agreed to and House resumed accordingly.