I beg to move, in page 7,line 44, after "aforesaid," to insert:

"or to constitute a new area for which a new Area Board is required to be established under the next following Subsection."

This Amendment, I think, meets the views of the right hon. Gentleman and his colleagues. We had some discussions on what might happen in the event of a new area board being created. As the wording of the original provision appeared to be defective, I have framed this form of wording, which I hope will be satisfactory.

I beg to move, in page 8, line 10, to leave out "may, where necessary," and to insert:

"shall, so far as it appears to the Minister to be necessary or expedient in consequence of the variation of areas or the establishment of a new Area Board."

This Amendment and the two subsequent Amendments are consequential on the Amendment which has just been made.

I think that this is a little more than a consequential Amendment because it leaves to the sole discretion of the Minister, without consultation with the Central Authority or the area boards, to decide on what is or what is not necessary to be done in consequence of a change in or variation of areas.

The right hon. Gentleman is partly right. We are not certain what will be required in this matter, and it appears to us, therefore, that it must be left to the Minister to determine, in the light of the circumstances, what course of action shall be taken. It will be noted that we have inserted the word "shall" in the place of the word "may," thus making the provision mandatory. The Opposition had an Amendment on the Order Paper which was not called during the Committee stage, to make it mandatory instead of permissive. I have, therefore, responded to their wish, and I hope that the right hon. Gentleman will be satisfied with the explanation.

I am much obliged.