Order for consideration, as amended ( in the Standing Committee), read.
Motion made, and Question proposed,
That the Bill be re-committed to a Committee of the whole House in respect of the Amendments to Clause 2, page 2, line 15, standing on the Notice Paper in the name of Mr. Mitchison.—[Mr. Mitchison.]
Question amended, by adding, at the end:
"and in respect of the new Clause (Amendment of s. 3 of Valuation for Rating Act, 1953), standing on the Notice Paper in the name of Mr. Mark Woodnutt".—[Mr. Woodnutt.]
"and in respect of the new Clauses (Rating of Gas Boards), (Rating of Electricity Boards) and (Rating of British Transport Commission), standing on the Notice Paper in the name of Mr. Frederic Harris ".—[Mr. F. Harris.]
"and in respect of the Amendment to Clause 1, page 1, line 12, and the two Amendments to Clause 3, page 2, line 34, standing on the Notice Paper in the name of Mr. Paul Williams",—[Mr. P. Williams.]
7.15 p.m.
On a point of order. I understand, having approached the Table, that two new Clauses which I had put down for consideration on Report have been ruled out of order on the ground that in some circumstances they might lead to a charge on the Revenue. Before you put the main Question on Recommittal, I should like to know, Mr. Deputy-Speaker, whether you would give some Ruling or guidance on the criteria which apply here, because obviously it has been a difficult case and I have found it a little unpredictable, in the sense of knowing just exactly where the dividing line should come.
I am sorry I cannot help the hon. Member. This is Mr. Speaker's decision.
I was asking you that, Mr. Deputy-Speaker, because it seems as though many Amendments to the Bill had been considered as possibly raising a charge, although some had not been so considered. In view of that, I wonder whether you would accept a manuscript Amendment to the Recommittal Motion in respect of the two new Clauses that stand in my name.
No, I would not have the power to do it.
Main Question, as amended, put and agreed to.
Bill immediately considered in Committee.
[Sir GORDON TOUCHE in the Chair]