§ [No. 3.]
§
In the Schedule, page 7, line 2, leave out paragraph 6.
§ VISCOUNT ECCLESMy Lords, I beg to move that this House doth agree with the Commons in their Amendment No. 3. The words which it is proposed to omit, "subject to any directitons given by the Secretary of State", were in our clause only because it was thought that the Board might behave rather as the old Board of Trade behaved and meet only once or twice a year. It was felt that possibly it was right to give the Secretary of State the power to say that this Board should meet at least six times a year. But I really am sympathetic to the Amendment proposed by the other place because I have great confidence in the Board and do not think they will neglect their duty. Therefore I recommend to your Lordships that we agree to this Amendment, which leaves the timetable of the Board's meetings and other arrangements that they may make entirely to the Board members themselves.
§ Moved, That this House doth agree with the Commons in the said Amendment.—(Viscount Eccles.)
§ BARONESS LEE OF ASHERIDGEMy Lords, I certainly agree. I think it is very important that when we appoint responsible men and women to boards of this kind we should not think that they need either a wet nurse or a dry nurse to tell them how to go about their duty; and without any disrespect to the present Minister, or any of his posisble successors, I think it is very wise that these words should be deleted.
§ On Question, Motion agreed to.