§ 6.56 p.m.
§ Viscount THURSOMy Lords, I beg to move that this Report be now received.
§ Moved, That the Report be now received.—(Viscount Thurso.)
1242Lord CAMPBELL of CROYMy Lords, I was not able to be present at the Committee stage of this Bill, as was explained by my noble friend Lord Mowbray at the time, but Amendments, one of them being in my name and in the name of my noble friend, which I understand were acceptable to the noble Viscount, Lord Thurso, and also to the Government, were made. But the noble Viscount himself proposed that two clauses should be removed from the Bill, and the main one was the one dealing with compensation. I understand his reason, which, if I may summarise it briefly, is that the first imports of coho salmon, the only ones that are known about, have now reached maturity, and therefore tile persons concerned are unlikely to need to he compensated. Whether or not they sell them, the value of their experiment has been realised. I understand that the removal of the compensation clause is not causing distress or grievance among those concerned outside your Lordships' House. The other clause which was removed was also a financial clause; and, as a result, I think the Bill does not require a Money Resolution. I think it would be helpful if the noble Viscount or the Government could confirm this.
This seems important to me, because the Bill, which has now been in your Lordships' House twice—because it was introduced and, I think, fully examined by this House in the last Session—is in a form in which I think it is acceptable to everyone concerned. I may be wrong, but that is the impression that I have; and t think the noble Viscount is to be congratulated on his tenacity and flexibility in adding to the Bill and, later, subtracting from it. But what really matters is whether it is going to be easy for the Bill to obtain a passage through another place, because at this stage in a Session it is virtually impossible for it to go through if it needs a Money Resolution, which the Government have to provide.
That particular hazard has now been removed, but if the noble Viscount has found a Member of another place to sponsor and pilot it there—and I am sure he will have, because the Bill commends itself generally—what chance has he of getting it through? The answer is, at this stage only with luck without debate, and if no one objects to it going through without debate. I should he personally quite 1243 pleased if that happened, because we have been able to discuss it all here. But it is possible that Members of another place may think that at least it needs to be discussed. I should like to ask whether the noble Viscount can tell us any more about that; whether there is a Member of another place who is confident that he will be able to get it through, as the expression is, "on the nod".
My Lords, if that proves not to be possible, I do not think that is any reflection upon the Bill because I think that what we have done is to produce what could be described as a model Bill for an opportunity when it arises. Here I think the Government may be able to help because, if in the coming Session a Member of another place is lucky in the ballot—and only the first eight normally have an opportunity of getting a Second Reading and a run for their Bill—then I hope that the Government may have this as one of the possibilities for Members of another place who are looking for subjects on which there is already general agreement that legislation is needed.
I think that after all the consideration it has had in this House, it can be regarded as a model. What matters really is its passage through another place. I think I could suggest to the noble Viscount—and I am sure he will realise that I am saying it with all respect—that I do not think he need again introduce it into this House "for a first time in yet a third Session in the coming Session. What matters is its chances in another place.
§ Lord KIRKHILLMy Lords, I think your Lordships know that the Government support wholeheartedly the underlying principle of the noble Viscount's Bill. The difficulty is, as the noble Lord, Lord Campbell of Croy, has just said, that no one can give affirmation that it will pass through the other place, due to the fairly congested Parliamentary programme there. What I can say to your Lordships is that I have reported all that has been said in this House to my right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Scotland.
§ Viscount THURSOMy Lords, may I take this opportunity to thank your Lordships for the help which you have given me throughout the passage of this 1244 Bill and its little predecessor. This is undoubtedly why it was possible for the noble Lord, Lord Campbell of Croy, to say that it is a model Bill. I cannot claim credit for that. I claim credit only for having aroused your Lordships' interest in it. As to its opportunities in another place, I may say that I have had very warm expressions of desire to help in another place from all Parties-literally all Parties in Scotland, including those not really represented in this House. I hope it may get through because an element of time is involved since, as the particular import that has been referred to grows, so it becomes more important, if we can, to pass the Bill.
I cannot guarantee your Lordships anything. May I perhaps use a Canadian metaphor, since it is the West Coast Canadian salmon that is referred to, and say that I feel rather like an Indian in a canoe shooting a particularly fast-flowing rapid. I realise that at any moment a snag may come up and sink the boat. On the other hand, if one is lucky, one may get through. I hope that this is the case.
On Question, Report received.