House Of Commons
Friday, 11th November, 1938.
The House met at Twelve of the Clock, Mr. SPEAKER in the Chair.
New Writ
For the County of Lancaster (Fylde Division), in the room of the Right honourable Edward Montague Cavendish Stanley, M.C. (commonly called Lord Stanley), deceased.—[ Captain Margesson.]
Oral Answer To Question
Overseas Civil Aviation (Public Corporation)
asked the Secretary of State for Air whether he has any statement to make regarding the future relations between Imperial Airways and British Airways and between those two companies and the Government?
Yes, Sir. The Government have had this question under consideration with a view to the creation of the most suitable instrument for developing our overseas civil aviation communications. The House will recall that under the Air Navigation (Financial Provisions) Act, which was passed earlier this year, the statutory limit on the aggregate amount of subsidies was increased to £3,000,000 and that it is intended to devote the greater part of this to overseas development. Large additional payments would consequently fall to be made to the companies selected by the Government for this purpose, and in the light of the opinions expressed by the Cadman Committee that dividends of subsidised air transport companies should be restricted to public utility rates and of the Government agreement in principle that public money should not be used for raising dividends to undue levels, it appears desirable to take steps to ensure that the large additional capital needed for development should be raised on terms which would not prove unduly expensive to the Exchequer. The rapid expansion of overseas services coupled with the great technical advances which are being made in this sphere moreover call under present circumstances for the pooling of resources and the strengthening of administrative and operating organisations to the fullest possible extent.
In these circumstances the Government are of opinion that the most satisfactory instrument for the development of overseas civil aviation would be provided by the association of the two chosen instruments—Imperial Airways, Limited, and British Airways, Limited—in a single public corporation. The Government, therefore, propose to recommend to Parliament legislation setting up a Public Corporation which will acquire the existing undertakings of Imperial Airways and British Airways. Before the Bill in introduced, the Government hope to fix with the directors of the two companies a fair and reasonable price for each undertaking which can be submitted to the shareholders for approval, and, if agreed, can be inserted in the Bill. If agreement cannot be reached, the Bill would provide for the price to be fixed by an independent arbitral tribunal. It is proposed that the new Public Corporation should obtain the funds for the purchase of the two existing undertakings and for its further capital requirements by the issue of fixed interest stocks guaranteed by the Government. Full details of the proposals will be contained in the Bill which I hope will be available at an early date.While it is true that the Cadman Committee suggested amalgamation on the London-Paris route, is it not a fact that they stressed the value of competition throughout the Empire, and is my right hon. Friend quite right, therefore, in bringing in aid to this scheme the Cadman Report?
Yes, I think so.
Will the right hon. Gentleman take steps to ensure that the price to be paid will be fixed as the value of the companies at some date prior to the statement in the House this morning?
All those matters will be taken into account. If an arrangement is not arrived at the matter will have to go to arbitration.
Bills Presented
Workmen's Compensation Bill
"to amend the law relating to workmen's compensation," presented by Mr. Ridley; supported by Mr. James Griffiths, Mr. J. Jones, Mr. Hayday, Mr. Lee, Mr. Thorne, Mr. Mainwaring, Mr. Cape, Mr. Dobbie, Major Milner, Mr. T. Smith, and Mr. R. J. Taylor; to be read a Second time upon Friday next, and to be printed. [Bill 5.]
Public Health (Coal Mine Refuse) Bill
"to amend the Public Health Act, 1936, with respect to coal mine refuse liable to spontaneous combustion," presented by Mr. Lawson; supported by Mr. Tinker, Mr. Gordon Macdonald, Mr. Batey, Mr. Parkinson, Mr. Rhys Davies, Mr. Ellis Smith, Mr. Cape, and Mr. George Griffiths; to be read a Second time upon Friday, 25th November, and to be printed. [Bill 6.]
Access To Mountains Bill
"to secure to the public the right of access to mountains and moorlands," presented by Mr. Creech Jones; supported by Mr. Price, Mr. Dalton, Mr. Hopkin, Mr. Noel-Baker, Colonel Wedgwood, Mr. Ellis Smith, Mr. Ede, Mr. Wilson, Mr. Gordon Macdonald, Lieut.-Commander Fletcher, and Mr. Woods; to be read a Second time upon Friday, 2nd December, and to be printed. [Bill 7.]
Workmen's Compensation Acts (1925 To 1934) Amendment Bill
"to amend the Workmen's Compensation Acts, 1925 to 1934, with respect to miners' nystagmus; to provide for the establishment of medical tribunals of appeal; to make certain alterations in medical procedure; to make sundry provisions regarding lump sum settlements; and for purposes incidental to and connected with the matters aforesaid," presented by Miss Ward; supported by Mr. Godfrey Nicholson and Mr. Hamilton Kerr; to be read a Second time upon Friday, 9th December, and to be printed. [Bill 8.]
Adoption Of Children (Regulation) Bill
"to regulate the making of arrangements by adoption societies and other persons in connection with the adoption of children; to provide for the supervision of adopted children by welfare authorities in certain cases; to restrict the making and receipt of payments in connection with the adoption of children; to amend Section two of the Adoption of Children Act, 1926; and for purposes connected with the matters aforesaid," presented by Miss Horsbrugh; supported by Mr. Allan Chapman, Mrs. Hardie, Mr. Henderson Stewart, Mr. Liddall, Mr. Lipson, Brigadier-General Sir Ernest Makins, Sir R. W. Smith, Mrs. Tate, and Mr. Tinker; to be read a Second time upon Friday, 16th December, and to be printed. [Bill 9.]
Charitable Collections (Reguation) Bill
"to provide for the regulation of certain collections for charitable purposes; and for matters connected therewith," presented by Mr. Craven-Ellis; supported by Mr. Bossom, Mr. Hutchinson, Mr. Salt, Sir Louis Smith, Sir Jonah Walker-Smith, Mr. C. S. Taylor, and Lieutenant-Commander Tufnell; to be read a Second time upon Friday, 3rd February, and to be printed. [Bill 10.]
Marriage Bill
"to facilitate marriages in cases where one party resides in Scotland and the other in England," presented by Mr. Anstruther-Gray; supported by Sir Edmund Brocklebank, Mr. Westwood, Sir Henry Morris-Jones, Mr. Wilfrid Roberts, Mr. Erskine Hill, Mr. McCorquodale, Mr. Leonard, Mr. Hamilton Kerr, Mr. Ellis Smith, and Major Neven-Spence; to be read a Second time upon Friday, 10th February, and to be printed. [Bill 11.]
Mining Subsidence Bill
"to provide for the payment of compensation for damage caused by mining subsidence," presented by Mr. Tomlinson; supported by Mr. Arthur Henderson, Mr. Ellis Smith, Colonel Wedgwood, Mr. Tinker, Mr. Watson, Mr. Batey, Mr. Grenfell, Mr. Gordon Macdonald, Mr. Leslie, and Mr. T. Smith; to be read a Second time upon Friday, 17th February, and to be printed. [Bill 12.]
Shops Bill
"to amend the Shops Acts, 1912 to 1936, with respect to hours of employment," presented by Mr. Leslie; supported by Mr. Rhys Davies, Mr. Jagger, Mr. R. J. Taylor, Mr. Sexton, Mrs. Hardie, Mr. Burke, Mr. Tomlinson, Mr. Leach, Mr. Lawson, Mr. Woods, and Mr. Ridley; to be read a Second time upon Friday, 24th February, and to be printed. [Bill 13.]
Water Supply Bill
"to make better provision with respect to the laying and maintenance of pipes for the supply of water by statutory water undertakers and for purposes connected therewith," presented by Sir Reginald Clarry; supported by Commander Sir Archibald Southby, Mr. Carey, Mr. Garro Jones, Lieut.-Colonel Sir A. Lambert Ward, Mr. Cove, Mr. H. Strauss, Mr. Tree, Sir Henry Morris-Jones, Mr. Simmonds, Mr. H. G. Williams, and Mr. Levy; to be read a Second time upon Friday, 3rd March, and to be printed. [Bill 14.]
Local Authorities (Enabling) Bill
"to extend the powers of local authorities in matters of finance and municipal trading," presented by Mr. Leach; supported by Mr. Charles Brown, Mr. Paling, Mr. Ede, Mr. Windsor, Major Milner, Mr. Gardner, Mr. Groves, Mr. Gordon Macdonald, Mr. Arthur Henderson and Mr. Dunn; to be read a Second time upon Friday, 10th March, and to be printed. [Bill 15.]
Riding Establishments (Registration And Inspection) Bill
"to provide for the registration and inspection of riding establishments; and for other purposes connected therewith," presented by Lieut.-Commander Tufnell; supported by Captain Heilgers, Sir Robert Gower, Mr. Hopkin, Colonel Sir Edward Ruggles-Brise, Colonel Clarke, Mr. Turton, Mr. Raikes, Major Sir Reginald Dorman-Smith, Mr. Wilfrid Roberts, Mr. Tree and Mr. Sutcliffe; to be read a Second time upon Friday, 17th March, and to be printed. [Bill 16.]
Contraceptives (Regulation Bill)
"to regulate the public display in shops of contraceptives and matter descriptive thereof; to prohibit street trading in such articles and to restrict the public advertisement thereof," presented by Mr. Simmonds; supported by Mr. Salt, Sir Patrick Hannon, Mr. R. J. Russell, Sir Francis Fremantle, Sir Joseph Leech, Sir Henry Morris-Jones, Major Neven-Spence, Dr. Salter, Sir George Hume, Viscountess Astor, and Sir John Haslam; to be read a Second time upon Friday, 16th December, and to be printed. [Bill 17.]
Law Of Libel (Amendment) Bill
"to amend the law relating to libel and slander," presented by Sir Stanley Reed; supported by Sir Edward Grigg, Major Astor, Mr. Alan Herbert, Sir John Wardlaw-Milne, Mr. Storey, Mr. Harold Nicolson, Sir Arnold Wilson, and Mr. R. C. Morrison; to be read a Second time upon Friday, 3rd February, and to be printed. [Bill 18.]
Charities (Fuel Allotments) Bill
"to extend the powers of the Charity Commissioners as respects fuel allotments," presented by Colonel Clarke; supported by Mr. H. Strauss, Mr. Erskine Hill, Miss Ward, and Colonel Guest; to be read a Second time upon Friday, 9th December, and to be printed. [Bill 19.]
Consumers' Council Bill
"to provide for the constitution of a consumers' council; to define the powers and duties of that council; to enable the Board of Trade to regulate by order the prices to be charged for certain commodities and the charges to be made in respect of sales thereof; and for purposes connected with the matters aforesaid," presented by Mr. Woods; supported by Mr. Alexander, Mr. Barnes, Mr. Thomas Henderson, Mr. Chater, Mr. Windsor, and Mr. Westwood; to be read a Second time upon Friday, 10th February, and to be printed. [Bill 20.]
Representation Of The People Acts (Amendment) Bill
"to amend the Representation of the People Acts in respect of the voting of sick persons; and for other purposes con- nected therewith," presented by Mr. Hunloke; supported by Sir Mervyn Manningham-Buller, Mr. Wise, Mr. MacLaren, Mr. Mabane, and Mr. H. G. Williams; to be read a Second time upon Friday, 17th February, and to be printed. [Bill 21.]
Custody Of Children (Scotland) Bill
"to enable courts of law in Scotland to make orders as to the custody of minor children under the age of sixteen," presented by Mr. Erskine Hill; supported by Mr. Anstruther-Gray, Sir Douglas Thomson, Miss Horsbrugh, Major Neven-Spence, and Major Rayner; to be read a Second time upon Friday, 9th December, and to be printed. [Bill 22.]
Coal Mines Bill
"to repeal the law amending temporarily the Coal Mines Acts, 1887 to 1919, with respect to the hours of employment below ground," presented by Mr. Gordon Macdonald; supported by Mr. Tinker, Mr. Cape, Mr. Daggar, Mr. Duncan Graham, Mr. R. J. Taylor, Mr. Parkinson, Mr. T. Smith, Mr. Lee, and Mr. Batey; to be read a Second time upon Friday, 3rd March, and to be printed. [Bill 23.]
Official Secrets Bill
"to amend Section six of the Official Secrets Act, 1920," presented by Lieutenant-Commander Fletcher; supported by Mr. Davidson and Mr. Pritt; to be read a Second time upon Friday, 25th November, and to be printed. [Bill 24.]
Clubs Registration Bill
"to provide for the registration of clubs; and for matters connected therewith," presented by Major Rayner; to be read a Second time upon Friday, 17th March, and to be printed. [Bill 25.]
Local Elections (Proportional Repre- Sentation) Bill
"to make provision for the introduction of proportional representation in local elections; and for other purposes connected therewith," presented by Mr. Edmund Harvey; supported by Mr. Rickards, Mr. C. Wilson, Sir William Wayland, Sir Arthur Salter, Mr. Holds-worth, and Sir Percy Harris; to be read a Second time upon Friday, 2nd December, and to be printed. [Bill 26.]
Highways Protection Bill
"to make provision for the preservation of the amenities of certain highways by the prohibition or restriction of traffic thereon," presented by Mr. H. Strauss; supported by Mr. Spens, Mr. Petherick, Mr. Erskine Hill, Major Lloyd George, Mr. Alan Herbert, Mr. Mabane, and Mr. MacLaren; to be read a Second time upon Friday, 24th February, and to be printed. [Bill 27.]
Voluntary Hospitals (Relief From Rating) Bill
"to grant relief from rates in the case of voluntary hospitals," presented by Mr. H. G. Williams; supported by Sir Richard Wells, Captain Plugge, Captain Strickland, Mr. Radford, Sir Nicholas Grattan-Doyle, and Mr. Lyons; to be read a Second time upon Friday, 3rd February, and to be printed. [Bill 28.]
Coast Protection Bill
"to make further and better provision for the protection of the coast of the United Kingdom against erosion; and for other purposes connected with the matter afore said," presented by Mr. Holmes; supported by Viscount Elmley, Colonel Sir George Courthope, Major Braithwaite, Captain Peter Macdonald, Mr. Ede, Mr. Roland Robinson, Mr. Rowlands, Mr. Loftus, Mr. Ross Taylor, Mr. Owen Evans, and Mr. Henry Haslam; to be read a Second time upon Friday, 25th November, and to be printed. [Bill 29.]
Whereupon Mr. SPEAKER adjourned the House, without Question put, pursuant to Standing Order No. 2.
Adjourned at Sixteen Minutes after Twelve o'Clock, until Monday next, 14th November.