§ 57 Clause 66, page 28, line 23, leave out subsection (3).
§ 58 Schedule 7, page 64, leave out lines 21 and 22.
§ 59 Schedule 11, page 76, leave out lines 9 to 30.
§ The Commons disagreed to the above Amendments for the following Reason:
§ 60 Because they appear to be unnecessary.
§ 6.5 p.m.
§ Lord HARRIS of GREENWICHMy Lords, I beg to move that this House doth insist on their Amendments Nos. 57 to 59, to which the Commons have disagreed for the Reason numbered 60. Your Lordships will be aware that the other place agreed the main Lords Amendment relating to forestry. They had, however, already disagreed a paving Amendment and subsequently failed to agree two consequential Amendments. In the absence of Part X of Schedule 2 to the Bill, there is no advantage in retaining these subsidiary references to forestry in the Bill and the Government do not wish to do so. I accordingly ask your Lordships to insist on the Amendments. The Governments will then advise the House of Commons to accept them when Lords' Messages are considered there.
§ Moved, That this House doth insist on their Amendments Nos. 57 to 59, to which the Commons have disagreed for the Reason numbered 60.—(Lord Harris of Greenwich.)
§ Lord SKELMERSDALEMy Lords, the first time that the noble Lord, Lord Harris of Greenwich, said "doth insist" I thought I needed a hearing aid. It seems to me that this is the first time that we have had positive encouragement from the Government this afternoon on something which is clearly sensible. It clears up an administrative muddle in another place. I cannot make up my mind whether it was because of a blunt or an over-sharp 718 guillotine. The Government were persuaded by the other place to accept our Amendment to Schedule 2 to reserve forestry, but the opposite happened to our consequential Amendments. I am therefore very glad that this is now sorted out and that forestry will he reserved to the Secretary of State.
§ Lord ELTONMy Lords, if I may add to those remarks, we are glad. The reversal took place in a Division after a debate. The failures to reverse took place on Divisions where there had been no debate. It seems to me that the argument and the Division were won together and it is very agreeable indeed to have the concurrence of another place in our own view.