Part of Orders of the Day — Ministry of Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill. – in the House of Commons at on 8 December 1920.
Dr Christopher Addison
, Shoreditch
I agree that, if the provisions of this new Clause were part of our public health statutes, it would in due time have many of the effects which my hon. Friends contemplate. I recognise that they, and others who move new Clauses, must be disappointed at the decision which I have very reluctantly had to take in this matter. I think that several of the proposed new Clauses would be useful additions to our Public Health Acts, and I hope that before very long they may be embodied in them. At the same time, I have taken the course that I have taken because it is getting on in December, and I made a promise to the House to resist the casting of additional burdens on the Bill, because the House was unanimously of opinion that there were too many things in it already. I am sure that, in the circumstances, it would only burden the Bill if I were to accept this Clause. There are several others as well which contain quite good suggestions within the limits of the title of the Bill, but, in view of the fact that the Session is so far advanced, I would appeal to my hon. Friends not to press this Clause upon me. I am sure it is fair to the House of Commons, in view of the promise I have made, not to burden the Bill with additional Clauses.
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