– in the House of Commons at on 25 March 1943.
Mr Herbert Williams
, Croydon South
asked the Home Secretary for what purpose the words, "or otherwise," have been added by Statutory Rule and Order, No. 295 of 1943, to Article 1 of the Control of Noise Order of 1940?
Mr Herbert Morrison
, Hackney South
The Control of Noise Order, S.R. and O. 1940, No. 1,042, referred to the use of church bells to indicate that members of an enemy force are landing, or attempting to land, or have landed from the air. The strict legal position was, therefore, that the bells could only be rung for an attack from the air. The Amendment makes it clear that they may be used as a local alarm signal for a raid by either air-borne or sea-borne troops.
Mr Herbert Williams
, Croydon South
Am I to understand that, while for nearly three years we have been under the impression that for any kind of invasion the bells will be rung, the legal advisers of the Government have only just discovered that the Order of 1940 was so inadequate?
Mr Herbert Morrison
, Hackney South
My hon. Friend had better put that question down.
As a bill passes through Parliament, MPs and peers may suggest amendments - or changes - which they believe will improve the quality of the legislation.
Many hundreds of amendments are proposed by members to major bills as they pass through committee stage, report stage and third reading in both Houses of Parliament.
In the end only a handful of amendments will be incorporated into any bill.
The Speaker - or the chairman in the case of standing committees - has the power to select which amendments should be debated.
