HL Deb 22 June 1989 vol 509 cc366-7

7.22 p.m.

Viscount Montgomery of Alamein

My Lords, I beg to move that the House do now resolve itself into Committee on this Bill.

Moved, That the House do now resolve itself into Committee.—(Viscount Montgomery of Alamein.)

On Question, Motion agreed to.

House in Committee accordingly.

[The LORD NUGENT OF GUILDFORD in the Chair.]

Clause 1 [Register.]:

Viscount Montgomery of Alamein moved Amendment No. 1: Page 1, line 7, at end insert ("are in receipt of an annual grant-in-aid to").

The noble Viscount said: These amendments are, in fact, all related and I hope that the Committee will agree that I should speak to all of them as a group. In due course I shall have to move them separately, but I hope the Chair will agree that I can move Amendments Nos. 2, 3 and 4 en bloc.

The Committee will recall that I explained at second Reading that these amendments were needed for technical drafting reasons. The objectives of the Bill are to set up a register of publicly-financed international parliamentary organisations which are in receipt of grant-in-aid to fund both the British and the international secretariats. In fact, it is these additional words about grant-in-aid that are included in Amendments Nos. 1 and 5 in Clause 1 and in the Title.

So far as Amendments Nos. 2, 3 and 4 are concerned, the deletions become necessary as the three organisations concerned are constituted and funded under entirely different systems and should not have been included in the Bill in the first place. I hope that those brief comments will explain what I have in mind, which I explained at greater length during Second Reading, and that the amendments will have the support of the Committee. I beg to move.

Lord Cledwyn of Penrhos

May I take the opportunity on behalf of the Opposition to welcome the amendments moved by the noble Viscount, Lord Montgomery. I am glad that he has been able to resolve the technical difficulties of this Bill, because its general aim—that is, to further the work of the Inter-Parliamentary Union and the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association—is a thoroughly commendable one. I hope that we shall now be able to complete its passage through this House without delay.

The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Lord Glenarthur)

May I say that I listened with great care to what my noble friend has said. I confirm that we have no objection; indeed, we thoroughly understand why he has put forward these amendments.

Viscount Montgomery of Alamein

I thank the noble Lord, Lord Cledwyn, and my noble friend Lord Glenarthur for their support in this matter.

On Question, amendment agreed to.

Clause 1, as amended, agreed to.

Clause 2 agreed to.

In the Schedule:

Viscount Montgomery of Alamein moved Amendments Nos. 2, 3 and 4 en bloc:

Page 2, leave out line 4.

Page 2, leave out line 6.

Page 2, leave out line 7.

On Question, amendments agreed to.

Schedule, as amended, agreed to.

In the Title:

Viscount Montgomery of Alamein moved Amendment No. 5: Line 2, after ("which") insert ("are in receipt of an annual grant-in-aid to").

On Question, amendment agreed to.

Title, as amended, agreed to.

House resumed: Bill reported with amendments.

Viscount Long

My Lords, I beg to move that the House do now adjourn during pleasure until 8.20 p.m.

Moved accordingly and, on Question, Motion agreed to.

[The Sitting was suspended from 7.28 to 8.20 p.m.]