HL Deb 06 May 1986 vol 474 c588

2 Clause 4, page 3, line 37, leave out ("qualifications") and insert ("biological or other relevant qualifications and of the")

Lord Glenarthur

My Lords, I beg to move that this House do agree with the Commons in their Amendment No. 2.

This amendment was moved by the Government in another place in order to respond to the view expressed in discussion in Committee that the Bill should point up the particular significance of qualifications in biological subjects when it comes to considering applications for personal licences under the Bill. Clause 4(3) of the Bill, as your Lordships will recall, deals with the situation where a sponsor is required for a personal licence application, and Clause 4(3)(b) lists the things which the sponsor must have knowledge of—the applicant's qualifications, training, experience and character. This amendment alters the subsection so that the sponsor is required to have knowledge of the, biological or other relevant qualifications and of the training, experience and character of the applicant". This is a worthwhile change, and I have no doubt it will be well received by your Lordships because several noble Lords emphasised the importance of the qualifications of personal licensees in our earlier debates.

I believe that it is a useful amendment, and I commend it to the House

Moved. That this House do agree with the Commons in the said amendment—(Lord Glenarthur).

On Question, Motion agreed to.