HL Deb 04 March 1975 vol 357 cc1195-6

3.3 p.m.

The MINISTER of STATE, SCOTTISH OFFICE (Lord Hughes)

My Lords, I beg to move that the Commons' Reasons for disagreeing to certain of the Lords Amendments be now considered.

Moved, That the Commons' Reasons for disagreeing to certain of the Lords Amendments be now considered.—(Lord Hughes.)

Lord CRAIGTON

My Lords, I should like to make one brief comment on the second of the Amendments—

Lord HAILSHAM of SAINT MARYLEBONE

My Lords, perhaps my noble friend would wait until the Amendments are considered. What we are now considering, I believe, is whether they should be considered.

The LORD CHANCELLOR

My Lords, perhaps I had better put the Question again. The Question is, That the Commons' Reasons for disagreeing to certain of the Lords Amendments be now considered?

On Question, Motion agreed to.

Lord HENLEY

My Lords, the noble and learned Lord is proceeding too quickly. The noble Lord, Lord Craigton, wished to make an interjection on the Question, Whether they should be considered?

Several Noble Lords: Did he?

Lord HENLEY

My Lords, he attempted to do so and was stopped in his tracks. I hope that the noble and learned Lord will put this Question again, because I think that the noble Lord, Lord Craigton, has something useful to say.

Lord HAILSHAM of SAINT MARYLEBONE

My Lords, my noble friend will correct me if I am wrong, but I thought he wanted to make a comment on the Commons' Reasons. If that is the case the appropriate moment to do it would be when we consider whether we should assent to the Reasons or dissent from them. If he wished to discuss the Question, whether the Commons' Amendments should be considered now, he would have been in order, and in that case I can only apologise for interrupting him.

Lord CRAIGTON

My Lords, my noble and learned friend is quite right; I just wanted to say something about the Amendments.

COMMONS' REASONS FOR DISAGREEING TO CERTAIN OF THE LORDS AMENDMENTS

[References are to Bill (50) as first printed by the Lords. Commons Reasons are printed in italics.]