§ [Nos. 27 and 28]
§ Clause 22, page 19, line 42, leave out "or apprentice"
§ Clause 22, page 19, line 43, leave out "or apprentice".
§ THE LORD CHANCELLORMy Lords, I beg to move that this House doth agree with the Commons in their Amendments Nos. 27 and 28. Clause 22(2)(e) of the Bill provides that
wages payable to a person as a seaman or apprentice, other than wages payable to him as a seaman or apprentice of a fishing boat",shall not be treated as earnings, and in consequence are not subject to attachment under the Bill. Although there are numerous schemes for Merchant Navy training there is now no specific apprenticeship scheme, and apprenticeship in the Merchant Navy is largely obsolescent, if not almost completely obsolete. This situation is recognised by provisions of the Merchant Shipping Bill now before Parliament which, among other things, seeks to remove the words "or apprentice" from the definition of "excepted sums" in Section 21(1)(e) of the Maintenance Orders Act 1958. This provision corresponds to Clause 22(2)(e) and it will be wholly repealed by the Administration of Justice Bill in the event of this Bill's being enacted before the Merchant Shipping Bill receives the Royal Assent. In these circumstances, no useful purpose is served by retaining the references to apprentices in Clause 22(2)(e) and this Amendment merely removes them. My Lords, I beg to move.
§ Moved, That this House doth agree with the Commons in the said Amendments.—(The Lord Chancellor.)
VISCOUNT COLVILLE OF CULROSSMy Lords, is the Merchant Shipping Bill going to receive the Royal Assent?
§ THE LORD CHANCELLORMy Lords, I understand there is a reasonable prospect of its doing so, and I see my noble friend Lord Beswick expressing his assent.
§ On Question, Motion agreed to.