HL Deb 25 June 1973 vol 343 cc1767-8

[No. 23]

Clause 9, page 12, line 16, at end insert: (5A) The Secretary of State may by regulations—

  1. (a) provide for the establishment of a body—
    1. (i) to advise Councils with respect to the performance of their functions and to assist Councils in the performance of their functions, and
    2. (ii) to perform such other functions as may be prescribed; and
  2. (b) make provisions as to the membership, proceedings, staff, premises and expenses of the said body;
and the Secretary of State may pay to members of the said body such travelling and other allowances (including compensation for loss of remunerative time) as he may determine with the consent of the Minister for the Civil Service."

LORD ABERDARE

My Lords, I beg to move that this House doth agree with the Commons in their Amendment No. 23. The effect of this Amendment is to give the Secretary of State power to provide by regulation for the establishment of a national body which would advise Community Health Councils with respect to the performance of their functions; and perform such other functions as may be prescribed. He will also have power to make provision as to membership, proceedings, staff, premises and expenses of such a body; and to pay to members of the body such travelling and other allowances (including compensation for loss of remunerative time) as he may determine with the consent of the Minister for the Civil Service.

Moved, That this House doth agree with the Commons in the said Amendment.—(Lord Aberdare.)

BARONESS WHITE

Again, my Lords, we think this is an improvement to the Bill and are happy to support it. There was a certain reluctance shown by the members of the Government in Committee in another place which makes us particularly gratified by the fact that this Amendment was put down at a later stage which I think in part meets the point put by my honourable friends in another place.

On Question, Motion agreed to.