HL Deb 19 July 1968 vol 295 cc640-2
EARL AMHERST

My Lords, I beg to move that this Report be now received.

Moved, That the Report be now received.—(Earl Amherst.)

Clause 3 [Protection of occupiers against eviction and harassment]:

EARL AMHERST

My Lords, this Amendment is the result of a general agreement that the original wording was a little harsh, and this is a more humane way of dealing with it. I beg to move.

Amendment moved— Page 3, line 8, leave out from ("conviction") to end of line 11 and insert—

  1. "(a) in the case of a first offence, to a fine not exceeding £100;
  2. (b) in the case of a second or subsequent offence, to a fine not exceeding £500 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months, or to both."—(Earl Amherst.)

LORD CRAIGMYLE

My Lords, I should like just to say a word to the sponsors of the Bill on this Amendment. This Amendment meets the point which I particularly had in mind, that there should be no imprisonment for a first offence. It does not go the whole way that my noble friend Lord Wakefield of Kendal and I had in mind, to take out imprisonment altogether. I cannot pretend to be entirely happy about the insertion of the words "or to both" at the end, but equally I cannot pretend to get exceedingly worked up about it. So I will just thank the noble Lord, Lord Wade, and his friends for meeting this point.

Then, Standing Order No. 41 having been suspended (pursuant to the Resolution of July 15), Bill read 3a, with the Amendments.

EARL AMHERST

My Lords, in moving that this Bill do now pass I should like to express, on behalf of my noble friend Lord Wade and my colleagues on these Benches, our thanks for the courteous consideration and help which we have received from the noble Lord, Lord Kennet.

Moved, That the Bill do now pass.—(Earl Amherst.)

THE PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY, MINISTRY OF HOUSING AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT (LORD KENNET)

My Lords, before the Question is put, I should just like to answer on behalf of the Government and to thank and congratulate the noble Lord, Lord Wade, and those who have been helping him, for introducing what the Government are convinced is a useful little measure for the protection of caravan dwellers, and an important and larger measure for achieving that reconciliation between gipsies and the larger number of the population which it is the purpose of us all to achieve.

On Question, Bill passed, and returned to the Commons.