Lords Sitting of 14 December 1967

Preamble
The House met at three of the clock, The LORD CHANCELLOR on the Woolsack.
Prayers—Read by the Lord Bishop of Bristol

INTIMIDATION IN INDUSTRIAL DISPUTES
3.6 p.m.
LORD SALTOUN: My Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
[The Question was as follows:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they have any reason to suppose that there has been, in connection with recent strikes, intimidation or "hazing" of those who have remained at work; and, having regard to the suicides and other horrors which resulted from such maltreatment after the 1955 railway strike, whether they have any plans to deal with any such "hazing" or intimidation.]
THE MINISTER WITHOUT PORTFOLIO (LORD SHACKLETON): My Lords, in recent months there have been a number of incidents involving persons engaged in picketing or demonstrations connected with industrial disputes, as a result of which there have been prosecutions for offences such as assaulting or obstructing the police. The police have powers to deal with offences of actual intimidation and if the noble Lord or anyone else has information that such offences have taken place he will no doubt communicate it to the appropriate chief officers of police.
LORD SALTOUN: My Lords, I am grateful to the noble Lord for that Answer, but I do not think it goes sufficiently far, because intimidation occurs in all sorts of ways—I am not making a speech, but one knows that it does occur. Is it not the case that the principal trade union leaders, to their credit, have pronounced against these practices—and very much to their credit, because they naturally tend to reinforce their authority? Is it not also the case that
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they are the only people in the country who can deal effectively with this evil?
LORD SHACKLETON: My Lords, I agree with the noble Lord that trade union leaders have been consistently opposed, and have made their opposition known in every possible way, to the sort of practices which are giving concern to the noble Lord, and indeed to any right-minded citizen. The noble Lord is correct in saying that it is difficult to see what more can be done in this matter, other than hope that the attitude of society will have its effect, unless an actual offence takes place, when of course it will be for the police to intervene.
LORD CITRINE: My Lords, is the Minister aware that this matter has been considered by Royal Commissions dating from over a hundred years ago, and that no remedy, legal or otherwise, has yet been discovered to require men who are suffering from a sense of grievance, real or false, to work in co-operation and willingly with other men against whom they feel that grievance?
LORD SHACKLETON: My Lords, I accept fully what my noble friend, with his vast experience of these matters, has said. I think the noble Lord, Lord Saltoun, was actually on a slightly different point, of actual intimidation that may have occurred. But I do not think I can add anything further to what I have already said.
VISCOUNT MASSEREENE AND FERRARD: My Lords, can the noble Lord tell me whether there has been any form of inquiry into the case which was mentioned in the Press, of the docker who committed suicide, I believe by hanging himself, during the recent dock strike?
LORD SHACKLETON: My Lords, I have no direct knowledge of the circumstances of that case, but if there was a suicide no doubt it was the subject of an inquest.
LORD SALTOUN: My Lords, the noble Lord is perfectly right: I was thinking of those cases in 1955 that led to suicides, and other frightful things. I should like to ask the noble Lord one further question. Is it not extremely regrettable, and possibly reprehensible, that
members of Her Majesty's Government

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who have taken an oath of loyalty to Her Majesty in the discharge of offices such as that of Home Secretary, and other offices, should ignore matters and thus deny to such an important body of Her Majesty's subjects that protection for which they are entitled to look to Her Majesty?
LORD SHACKLETON: My Lords, I am afraid that at this point the noble Lord loses my sympathy. I think he is completely confused as to the responsibility of Ministers of the Crown, including the Home Secretary. As to actual offences, this is a matter to be dealt with by the due process of law.
LORD BROCKWAY: My Lords, may I ask my noble friend whether we are not getting this issue out of perspective? Is it not the case that a large number of workers will not go on strike unless they have deeply felt grievances? And, much as we may dislike unofficial strikes, is it not far better to inquire into the grievances which they feel, rather than raising these issues?
LORD SHACKLETON: My Lords, I think the supplementary questions are going a little wide of the original Question. I do not disagree with the sense behind what my noble friend has said, but I do not think this is the occasion for him to pursue it. The subject of intimidation and where it may be exercised is a difficult issue. I have occasionally even heard remarks in this House which could amount to intimidation.

RUBBISH DUMPING ON WIMBLEDON AND PUTNEY COMMONS
3.13 p.m.
LORD AMULREE: My Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
[The Question was as follows:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they are satisfied that the provisions of the Wimbledon and Putney Commons Act of 1871 are sufficient to enable the Conservators appointed under that Act to prevent unauthorised tipping.]
THE PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY, MINISTRY OF HOUSING AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT (LORD KENNET): My Lords, this is a matter for the Conservators. If the powers in their own Act are not sufficient, they could take proceedings under the Civic Amenities Act 1967, which provides for fines of up to £100.
LORD AMULREE: My Lords, I thank the noble Lord for that informative reply. Can he tell me whether it is possible to bring any pressure on the Conservators to take these proceedings, in view of the quite peculiar things which are being dumped on the Common at the present time?
LORD KENNET: My Lords, any citizen can bring any pressure to bear on any public body to take proceedings.
LORD BYERS: My Lords, what would the noble Lord himself do to stop this unauthorised tipping?
LORD KENNET: My Lords, the noble Lord's Question will draw attention to it, and I myself will approach the Conservators.
LORD HAWKE: My Lords, is the noble Lord referring to "baksheesh" or to rubbish?

VIETNAM: RUSSIA AND 1954 GENEVA CONFERENCE
3.14 p.m.
LORD ROWLEY: My Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
[The Question was as follows:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether any request has been received from the Governments of Canada, India and Poland, constituting the Vietnam International Commission, for a reconvening of the 1954 Geneva Conference.]
THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS (LORD CHALFONT): No, my Lords.
LORD ROWLEY: My Lords, may I ask my noble friend whether Her Majesty's Government share the view officially expressed by the Soviet Government last Sunday: that the agreements

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which issued from the 1954 Geneva Conference are still valid? If that be so, could not a cease-fire be arranged almost within a matter of days if only the Soviet Government would co-operate with Her Majesty's Government in reconvening that 1954 Geneva Conference?
LORD CHALFONT: My Lords, I am very much in sympathy with the spirit of my noble friend's question. My right honourable friend the Foreign Secretary has invited the Soviet co-Chairman on numerous occasions to join him in reconvening the Geneva Conference. This invitation still stands, and my right honourable friend will be ready to act immediately if the Soviet co-Chairman will take up the offer. Unfortunately, Mr. Gromyko has not done so.
LORD BROCKWAY: My Lords, is it not the case that the International Commission, representing India, Poland and Canada, were required to implement the decisions of the Geneva Conference? And in view of that fact, is it not desirable, in addition to making approaches to the Soviet Government as co-Chairman, to ask this Commission to make the proposal for a reconvening of the Geneva Conference?
LORD CHALFONT: My Lords, we are always ready to take any initiative in co-operation with any of the Governments concerned if there should be any chance of bringing peace to Vietnam. It seems to us that the context of the Geneva Conference is one of the ways of doing this, but as I say, the Soviet co-Chairman refuses to respond to any invitation to reconvene this Conference. I am not sure that the particular procedure outlined by my noble friend would have a much better chance of leading to the peace that we all desire in Vietnam.
LORD ROWLEY: My Lords, may I ask my noble friend whether he is satisfied that it is not possible for one of the co-Chairmen to sound all the other member Governments of the Conference with a view to issuing invitations to a Conference, even if one or more of the Governments decline to attend?
LORD CHALFONT: My Lords, the position is that the Conference can be reconvened only by agreement between
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the co-Chairmen. However, I see no reason why soundings of the sort outlined by my noble friend should not take place; and, as I say, we will take every opportunity we can to further the cause of peace in Vietnam. I would, however, point out that to reconvene the Geneva Conference and not have the Soviet Union represented there would not be a major step forward.
LORD BROCKWAY: My Lords, may I ask my noble friend whether he will very seriously consider this approach? Is it not the fact that the Commission, representing Canada, India and Poland, were given the duty of implementing the Geneva Conference decisions? In view of that fact, despite the attitude of Soviet Russia, would it not be possible to take the initiative of consulting the international Commission with a view to securing a reconvening of the Conference?
LORD CHALFONT: My Lords, of course I can give my noble friend an assurance that we will take his proposal very seriously indeed, and will look into the possibilities of making some progress in this way. I can only say that, from my experience of attempts to do this in past years, through the machinery of the I.C.C. and through all other machineries, I cannot be very optimistic of the chances of success. But I repeat that we certainly take the suggestion very seriously and will follow it up.
LORD BROCKWAY: I thank the noble Lord.

FOOT-AND-MOUTH EPIDEMIC AND MEAT IMPORTS
3.18 p.m.
LORD CRAWSHAW: My Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
[The Question was as follows:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether, in view of the fact that at least 49 per cent. of primary outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease are associated with foreign meat (Hansard, November 30, 1967, bottom of col. 228), they will permanently ban the import of meat from countries where foot-and-mouth disease is endemic, so as to avoid frustrating the present drastic slaughter policy by the import of further virus.]
LORD BESWICK: My Lords, the suspension of imports from certain countries announced on December 4 is a temporary measure intended to minimise the risk of any new primary outbreak while the present emergency is being brought under control. My right honourable friend has said that when the present epidemic is over he will set up an independent committee to examine our policy and arrangements for dealing with foot-and-mouth disease and to advise whether any changes are necessary.
LORD CRAWSHAW: My Lords, may I thank the noble Lord for his reply? I quite appreciate the problem which the Minister has on his hands at the moment. But will the noble Lord, in view of that high figure of 49 per cent. which he kindly supplied to me the other day, make certain that very serious thought is brought to bear on such restrictions as I have mentioned, and that, although other considerations may come up when there is an inquiry, primary importance is given to the protection of our herds in this country?
LORD BESWICK: Yes, my Lords. I think I ought to point out, however, that the answer which I gave to the noble Lord earlier did emphasise that the evidence on which the 49 per cent. figure was based was only circumstantial. But, clearly, the question of a permanent ban on imports must be one of the matters which the Committee of Inquiry will have to consider, and I should have thought it would be wrong for me, or any member of the Government, to prejudge the issue before seeing the recommendations of that Committee.
THE DUKE OF ATHOLL: My Lords, would the noble Lord confirm that the temporary ban on imports will be continued until the Committee of Inquiry have come to a conclusion one way or the other, and if they recommend that the ban should be made permanent that it will be continued until it can be made permanent?
LORD BESWICK: No, my Lords, I cannot confirm that. The undertaking was that these imports would be banned until the present epidemic had been brought under control.
THE DUKE OF ATHOLL: So we shall still be able to have imports between
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the time the present epidemic is brought under control and the time the Committee of Inquiry reports?
LORD BESWICK: My Lords, what I have said is that the present ban will extend until the present epidemic has been brought under control.
LORD OAKSHOTT: My Lords, in the light of the question on imported meat raised by my noble friend Lord Crawshaw, has the noble Lord any information which he can give the House about the experiences of the Republic of Ireland in this regard? For example, is it true that they have not had an outbreak since 1941 and that they have banned the import of foreign meat since 1940? And is it not significant, in the light of the circumstances which the noble Lord has promised are going to take place?
LORD BESWICK: Yes, my Lords, that is a fact. As the noble Lord says, they do not import from other countries; but it is also a fact that Eire is a net exporter of beef. We are in a quite different position.
BARONESS SUMMERSKILL: My Lords, if there is a valid case that there is an association between foot-and-mouth disease in this country and foot-and-mouth disease in those countries where it is endemic, why has there not been an outbreak in this country for the last forty years during which we have been importing meat from the countries where foot-and-mouth disease is endemic?
LORD BESWICK: My Lords, I confess that I do not entirely understand the noble Baroness's question. There have, of course, been a number of outbreaks in this country.
BARONESS SUMMERSKILL: My Lords, having been a Minister in the Ministry of Food I recall having to get meat over a long period from countries where foot-and-mouth disease was endemic, and nobody ever suggested at that time that there was any association between foot-and-mouth disease in those countries and in this country.
LORD BESWICK: My Lords, this illustrates the difficult problem that we are discussing. The fact of the matter is that some people say that almost certainly the disease is caused by imported

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meat; others say, with equal certainty, that so far not one piece of meat from those other countries has been found to be infected with foot-and-mouth disease. The decision that will have to be taken by the Committee of Inquiry will be based upon all the facts at our disposal; and personally I should have thought that a decision was best taken objectively by a Committee of that kind, rather than by question and answer across the Floor of the House.
LORD BARNBY: My Lords, arising out of the noble Lord's earlier most patient replies, and since there seems to be ambiguity in the Press, may I ask whether he is in a position to make any authoritative statement as to the length of time that the germs can remain in the marrow of bones, because that seems to be a matter of profound concern over the country?
LORD BESWICK: My Lords, the noble Lord is quite right. That is one of the facts of the situation, that germs are persistent in the marrow over an especially long time. Exactly how long I cannot say.
LORD BALERNO: My Lords, can the noble Lord say whether since the inoculation and vaccination policy has been adopted in the Argentine there has been an increase in the number of cattle carrying the disease, and that this cannot be identified at the point of slaughter in the Argentine, so that this country is at greater risk from foot-and-mouth disease than ever it was before?
LORD BESWICK: My Lords, I would rather not comment here upon the experience of the farmers in the Argentine. The noble Lord has far greater experience than I of these matters, and he knows, I think, the answer to his own question.
LORD BELSTEAD: My Lords, could the noble Lord tell me what percentage of our total annual beef imports comes from the Argentine? Could he give me some idea as to where the Government are looking at the moment to make up the gap which is presumably now caused by the loss of these imports?
LORD BESWICK: My Lords, the figure is of the order of 10 per cent. As for alternative supplies I would rather not answer that question without notice.

SHOPS (SUNDAY TRADING) BILL [H.L.]
LORD DERWENT: My Lords, I beg leave to introduce a Bill to amend the Shops Act 1950 to 1965 in relation to the provisions as to trading on Sundays; and for purposes connected therewith. I beg to move that this Bill be now read a first time.
Moved, that the Bill be now read 1a. (Lord Derwent.)
On Question, Bill read 1a, and to be printed.

BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE
LORD SHACKLETON: My Lords, on behalf of my noble friend Lord Longford, I beg to move the Motion standing in his name on the Order Paper.
Moved, That Standing Orders No. 35 (Arrangement of the Order Paper) and No. 41 (No two stages of a Bill to be taken on one day) be suspended until the House adjourns for the Recess at Christmas.—(Lord Shackleton.)
On Question, Motion agreed to.

HOUSE OF LORDS OFFICES
3.25 p.m.
THE DEPUTY CHAIRMAN OF COMMITTEES (LORD MERTHYR): My Lords, on behalf of the Lord Chairman, who is unwell, I beg to move that the First Report from the Select Committee, be now considered.
Moved accordingly and, on Question, Motion agreed to.
The Committee's Report was as follows:
1. APPOINTMENT OF SUB-COMMITTEES
(a) The Administration Committee was appointed as follows:

E. Listowel (Chairman)

M. Salisbury

E. St. Aldwyn

V. Simonds

L. Amulree

L. Beswick

L. Strang

B. Swanborough

with the Clerk of the Parliaments.
With power to co-opt further Lords.

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(b) Library. The Sub-Committee on the Library was appointed as follows:

M. Cholmondeley

V. Simonds

L. Amulree

L. Burden

L. Carrington

L. Champion

L. Chorley

L. Reid

B. Wootton of Abinger

with the Clerk of the Parliaments.
With power to co-opt further Lords and to appoint its own Chairman.
(c) Refreshment Department.

E. St. Aldwyn

V. Goschen

L. Amulree

L. Beswick

L. Sainsbury

L. Strang

B. Swanborough

with the Clerk of the Parliaments.
With power to co-opt further Lords and to appoint its own Chairman.
(d) House of Lords' Estimates.

E. Listowel (Chairman)

E. St. Aldwyn

L. Amulree

L. Beswick

with the Clerk of the Parliaments.
2. TELEVISION
The Committee sanctioned the hiring of a colour television set.
3. PARLIAMENTARY OFFICE AND LIBRARY
The Committee were informed by the Clerk of the Parliaments of certain developments in regard to the staffing of the Parliament Office, and noted:

(a) the temporary appointment, with the approval of the Lord Chancellor, of Mr. E. D. Graham, Principal Clerk of Private Bills as Reading Clerk, in the place of Mr. P. G. Henderson during the latter's absence;

(b) the appointment, on secondment, of Mr. D. Dewar, a Senior Clerk, as Secretary to the Leader of the House and Government Chief Whip, in the place of Mr. M. A. J. Wheeler-Booth, who would remain seconded while acting as Special Assistant to the Leader of the House.

The Committee authorised:

(i) the purchase of a court dress uniform for use by Mr. Graham during his temporary appointment as Reading Clerk;

(ii) the recruitment of a new Clerk and the consequent eventual increase to fourteen in the total complement of Clerks in the Parliament Office;

(iii) the future complement (to be brought gradually into effect) of one Senior Personal Secretary and six Personal Secretaries, in substitution for five Personal Assistants, one Senior Official Assistant and one Office Assistant;

(iv) the appointment of an additional Office Assistant in the Printed Paper Office;

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(v) the payment of an allowance to the Senior Office Assistant in the Lord Chairman's Department with effect from the 2nd November, 1967;

(vi) the regrading to Record Office Assistant of the post of Paperkeeper in the Library.

4. REVISED SCALES OF PAY
The Committee authorised the revised scale of salary under E.C. No. 35/65—Central Pay Increase to the Assistant Librarian and the Assistant Clerks of the Records with effect from 1st July, 1966.
The Committee confirmed the application authorised by the Lord Chairman and the Clerk of the Parliaments, of D.E.O. (67) (Pay) No. 23 dated 21st August, 1967 "Women Cleaners—revised rates of pay" to the Housemaids with effect from 1st July, 1966.
The Committee sanctioned a consequential revision of the gratuity awarded to Mrs. D. E. Sadd.
5. HANSARD REPORTING STAFF
The Committee reviewed the agreement with Haynes Secretarial Services for the supply of typists for the reporting of debates and approved an increase in their charges with effect from 3rd July, 1967.
6. DOORKEEPERS
The Committee approved an increase in the allowance on appointment towards the cost of the purchase of dress clothes accessories and also in the annual allowance for upkeep of dress clothes with effect from 1st September, 1967.
7. DEPARTMENT OF THE LORD GREAT CHAMBERLAIN AND SERJEANT-AT-ARMS
The Committee authorised retrospectively the employment of a temporary assistant in the office of the Lord Great Chamberlain for duties in connection with the last State Opening of Parliament.
8. PALACE OF WESTMINSTER
The Committee sanctioned the payment of the charges for one Police Constable for duty in the Chamber of the House of Lords to control unaccompanied parties on days during Recesses when the Palace of Westminster is not open to the Public.
9. LATE-NIGHT TRANSPORT
The Committee were informed of the arrangements for the transport of essential members of the staff of the House of Lords when the House sits late after public transport has ceased. The Committee authorised the payment of the cost of late-night transport.
10 ESTIMATES
The Estimate for the House of Lords for 1968–69 was laid before the Committee and approved.
11. SUPERANNUATION
The Committee sanctioned the payment of a Gratuity under S.4(1) Superannuation Act 1965 to the legal personal representative of the late George Louis Adby, a Senior Office Assistant, who died on 15th September, 1967 and a Widow's Pension.
LORD MERTHYR: My Lords, I beg to move that this Report be now agreed to. If there are any points upon which any noble Lord desires further information I will do my best to answer his questions, but I do not myself think that there are any special points to which the attention of the House ought to be drawn. I beg to move.
Moved, That the Report be agreed to.—(Lord Merthyr.)
On Question, Motion agreed to.

CONSUMER PROTECTION BILL [H.L.]
3.27 p.m.
THE MINISTER OF STATE, BOARD OF TRADE (LORD BROWN): My Lords, I beg to move that this Bill be recommitted to a Committee of the whole House on Monday next. The purpose of this Motion is to enable a second Committee stage to be taken on Monday next instead of the Report stage, which is due to be taken on that day. As your Lordships will be aware, many of the Amendments which were moved in Committee were withdrawn as a result of assurances given by the Government. I have since had an opportunity of considering carefully the points raised and have tabled Amendments to meet some of them. If this Motion is agreed to it will give the House an opportunity of considering these Amendments, and of course others that may be tabled, in Committee, where the rules of procedure allow more detailed discussion than on Report. It will also allow the Report stage to fulfil its proper function, which is to review and perfect Amendments made in Committee. I beg to move.
Moved, That the Bill be recommitted to a Committee of the Whole House.—(Lord Brown.)
EARL ST. ALDWYN: My Lords, we on this side of the House welcome the noble Lord's proposal. I am sure that this is the right way to deal with this Bill. It is a complicated Bill. There is a lot to be done to it, and I am sure that we shall get a much better result from this course.
LORD AMULREE: My Lords, I entirely support what the noble Earl, Lord St. Aldwyn, has just said.
BARONESS BURTON OF COVENTRY: My Lords, may I ask my noble friend whether he can help us at this stage? Can he tell us as to what hour we shall be sitting on Monday or which clause we shall be reaching, because the two are not necessarily the same, and it is of help to those of us who have to stay?
LORD BROWN: My Lords, I understand that we have been allotted, if I may put it that way, a provisional allowance of four hours. It is difficult for me to say precisely at what point we shall begin our proceedings, but I imagine that it will be soon after Question Time. This, therefore, may take us to somewhere about seven or eight o'clock. I am unable to say whether we shall require the whole of this time, because I am aware that there are a number of Amendments in draft form. Certainly some additional Amendments will be tabled. If these come in in sufficient volume I am quite sure we shall require the whole time. In fact we may not get through the whole of the Committee stage.
EARL ST. ALDWYN: My Lords, it would be helpful if the noble Lord could say beyond which point it is not intended to go. I understood that there was a suggestion that we should not go beyond a certain clause. I do not know whether the noble Lord can enlighen the House on this.
LORD SHACKLETON: My Lords, we are getting into the sort of detail which we usually discuss through the usual channels. I understand that in this situation noble Lords always seek for certainty, but the noble Earl is aware how difficult it is to attain it. But certainly the convenience of the Committee of the House will be very much borne in mind, and that also takes into account those who serve us so faithfully.
On Question, Motion agreed to.

EXPIRING LAWS CONTINUANCE BILL
Read 3a, and passed.
FAMILY ALLOWANCES AND NATIONAL INSURANCE BILL
Read 3a, and passed.

EDUCATION BILL [H.L.]
BARONESS PHILLIPS: My Lords, I beg to move that the Bill be now read a third time. I have made further inquiries about an Amendment which was moved by the noble Lord, Lord Ilford, at the Report stage, and I understand that those whose concern the noble Lord, Lord Ilford, was expressing wished to have further time to consider the effect of the Amendment which he put down earlier and will write to my right honourable friend the Secretary of State if they have still further anxieties. My right honourable friend, for his part, will consider carefully what they have to say when the Bill is being considered in another place.
Moved, That the Bill be now read 3a.—(Baroness Phillips.)
LORD ILFORD: My Lords, I am much obliged to the noble Baroness. The interested parties are in touch with each other, and I hope that some satisfactory result will emerge.
On Question, Bill read 3a, and passed, and sent to the Commons.

COAL INDUSTRY BILL
3.35 p.m.
THE MINISTER OF STATE, HOME OFFICE (LORD STONHAM): My Lords, I beg to move that the House do now resolve itself into Committee on this Bill.
Moved, That the House do now resolve itself into Committee.—(Lord Stonham.)
On Question, Motion agreed to.
House in Committee accordingly.
[The LORD MERTHYR in the Chair.]
Clauses 1 to 6 agreed to.
Clause 7 [Increase in membership of the National Coal Board]:
On Question, Whether Clause 7 shall stand part of the Bill?
LORD STONHAM: I seek the agreement of your Lordships that this clause should not stand part of the Bill. It will be within your Lordships' recollection that on Second Reading I indicated that it was the Government's intention to seek the deletion of this clause. The clause
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as it stands provides for the appointment of five additional members to the Board. When the Bill was framed the Government's thinking then was that the need arose because the Board had shortened, as it were, their internal lines of communication by eliminating their divisional staff and concentrating coal production into 17 areas with direct responsibility to the Board. This provided national groupings of collieries into areas of convenient size for efficient management, but it did not produce a regional entity for Scotland, Wales and parts of England where regional co-ordination is necessary, and it is fast developing in other fields.
The primary role, therefore, of the additional members was to give the Board the means and the capacity to deal with regional problems without losing the advantage of the more direct management structure now in operation. My right honourable friend, having further considered the matter, and particularly the representations which have been made in Parliament during the various stages of the Bill, is now satisfied that his objective can be achieved without the appointment of additional members of the Board. Therefore this clause is no longer necessary.
Clause 7 disagreed to.
Clause 8 [Supplemental]:
LORD STONHAM: This Amendment is consequential on the deletion of Clause 7. I beg to move.
Amendment moved—
Page 4, line 41, leave out ("enactments") and insert ("provisions of the 1965 Act").(Lord Stonham.)
On Question, Amendment agreed to.
Clause 8, as amended, agreed to.
Remaining clause agreed to.
Schedule [Consequential Amendments]:
LORD STONHAM: The omission of these two paragraphs is entirely consequential on the deletion of Clause 7. I beg to move.
Amendment moved—
Page 6, leave out lines 2 to 10 and insert ("CONSEQUENTIAL AMENDMENTS TO 1965 ACT").—(Lord Stonham.)
On Question, Amendment agreed to.
Schedule, as amended, agreed to.
LORD STONHAM: This Amendment deletes from the Title the words "to authorise the appointment of additional members to the National Coal Board", which are of course now no longer needed. I beg to move.
Amendment moved—
In the Title, line 11, leave out from ("State") to ("and") in line 13.—(Lord Stonham.)
Title, as amended, agreed to.
3.40 p.m.
House resumed: Bill reported, with Amendments.
Then, Standing Order No. 41 having been suspended (pursuant to Resolution):
LORD STONHAM: My Lords, I beg to move that this Report be now received.
Moved, That the Report be now received.—(Lord Stonham.)
On Question, Motion agreed to.
Bill read 3a with the Amendments, and passed, and returned to the Commons.