§ 3.18 p.m.
§ THE LORD PRIVY SEAL (THE EARL OF LONGFORD)My Lords, it will, I am afraid, be necessary to ask the House to agree to an amendment of the wording of the Motion which is down in my name on the subject of Theatre Censorship. The Motion at present reads:
That a Committee of eight Lords be appointed to join with a Committee of the Commons as a Joint Committee on Theatre Censorship".The original Motion, agreed on May 17, was in the following terms:That it is desirable that a Joint Committee of both Houses be appointed to review the law and practice relating to the censorship of stage plays".While the term "Theatre Censorship" may well cover the terms of the Motion of May 17, it would be more accurate, perhaps, to set out these terms fully in the present Motion. I venture, therefore, to ask the House to make a verbal amendment and to agree to a Motion in that sense. The Motion would then read:That a Committee of eight Lords be appointed to join with a Committee of the Commons as a Joint Committee to review the law and practice relating to the censorship of stage plays.My Lords, the change is purely verbal. I beg to move.
§ Moved, That a Committee of eight Lords be appointed to join with a Committee of the Commons as a Joint Committee to review the law and practice relating to the censorship of stage plays:
§ That the Lords following be named of the Committee:—
- E. Scarbrough,
- E. Kilmuir,
- V. Norwich,
- L. Tweedsmuir,
- B.Gaitskell,
- L. Lloyd of Hampstead,
- L. Annan,
- L. Goodman:
§ That such Committee have power to agree with the Committee of the House of Commons in the appointment of a Chairman:
§ That leave be given to the Joint Committee to hear parties interested by themselves, their Counsel, Agents and witnesses, so far as the Committee think fit.—(The Earl of Longford.)
§ On Question, Motion agreed to.
§ Ordered that a message be sent to the Commons to acquaint them therewith and to request them to appoint an equal number of their Members to join with the said Lords.