Mr John Wheatley: Does the hon. Member not realise that the last Administration provided all these safeguards—a widow's pensions for the widow, National Health Service for the operation, and childrens' allowance for the children?
Mr John Wheatley: Curtailed benefits.
Mr John Wheatley: I have not seen the hon. Member in the Chamber for the last two hours.
Mr John Wheatley: May I call your attention to the fact, Sir, that we are now dealing with the right of private Members, a right of the House which is very jealously protected both by the Chair and both sides of the House. According to custom we ballot three Bills for each private Members' day, and I submit that the theory is that each of these Bills should have an opportunity of being discussed during that...
Mr John Wheatley: If the hon. and learned Gentleman wishes to intervene I will certainly allow him to do so, but I will not allow him to take my place on the Floor.
Mr John Wheatley: I would have been quite willing to withdraw the suggestion I made, but it was rather obvious to us on this side that an S.O.S. was going out to bring people into the House to continue this debate. I do not want to get drawn along side-tracks, but the hon. and learned Gentleman has, by his last remark, removed from himself the right to receive any withdrawal. It was quite obvious that the hon....
Mr John Wheatley: Can we have a categorical answer to whether or not Her Majesty's Government intend to introduce legislation to remove this evil?
Mr John Wheatley: Does not the hon. Gentleman realise that when the Limitation Act was passed in 1939, the period of limitation was extended to 12 months in England but retained at six months in Scotland? The understanding was given at that time that the period would be extended to 12 months in Scotland, and will the hon. Gentleman look at this matter again pending general legislation on the whole question of...
Mr John Wheatley: In view of the apparent reluctance of local authorities to take advantage of powers contained in the Housing Act to acquire these houses, will Her Majesty's Government give sympathetic consideration to a Private Member's Bill, standing in the name of my hon. Friend the Member for Dunbartonshire, West (Mr. Steele)?
Mr John Wheatley: Does the hon. and gallant Gentleman not agree that it is a gross breach of faith to allow these houses, which were originally allocated for tenant occupancy, to be put up for sale?
Mr John Wheatley: May I ask the hon. and learned Gentleman three questions arising out of his answer? Does he realise that we are concerned in this connection with the atttitude of the present Government towards this legislation in view of the Report of the Tucker Committee? Secondly, does he not realise that some reform of the law in this direction is now necessary? Thirdly, if there is to be no immediate...
Mr John Wheatley: Is the right hon. Gentleman not aware that under existing Housing Acts there is a 50 per cent. grant available for these houses, provided they are not tied?
Mr John Wheatley: Is it not the case that there is no Exchequer assistance unless the house is being modernised?
Mr John Wheatley: Does the right hon. Gentleman accept the statement of the local authorities that instead of the burden being shared three parts by the Government and one part by the local authority according to the promise of Her Majesty's Government, it is now being shared in a ratio of 1.2 to 1?
Mr John Wheatley: Will the right hon. Gentleman take steps to initiate negotiations with a view to seeing that the arrangements between Scotland and the other Commonwealth countries are properly in force?
Mr John Wheatley: The hon. Gentleman has said that this was part of the Tory Party's Election policy in Scotland. Will he mention one Tory candidate in Scotland who, at the General Election, included in his Election address or campaign the denationalisation of these establishments?
Mr John Wheatley: Perhaps the hon. Gentleman would explain whether he was then a Liberal, an Independent Liberal, a National Liberal or a Tory candidate?
Mr John Wheatley: There is one aspect of the Order dealing with chocolate, sugar confectionery and cocoa products which has not been dealt with, and on which I think we should have some explanation. In that Order there is a new definition of the term "Chocolate couverture," and it would have been desirable had the House been informed as to the reason why the definition in the previous Order has been changed....
Mr John Wheatley: I am obliged for the Parliamentary Secretary's explanation but, as he is probably aware, these Orders apply to Scotland as well as to England. The dictum of the Lord Chief Justice is not binding on the Scottish Courts. We have rather a different procedure in Scotland in our criminal prosecutions. I would like to know if the test as to whether this would stand up to scrutiny in the Scottish...
Mr John Wheatley: In that case, we must await the test of time, if and when a case is raised in court. May I ask one question, and ascertain from the hon. Gentleman whether those who advise him have given him an answer to this? If we read the definition of the Order, one will see that the "Chocolate couverture" means any chocolate product that would be regarded in the chocolate industry as properly sold under...