Part of the debate – in the House of Commons am ar 15 Mehefin 1933.
At first sight I cannot help feeling a great deal of sympathy with the objects of the proposed new Clause, but I feel that there is great weight in what the Solicitor-General for Scotland has said. There is the additional point, which perhaps may be borne in mind in not pressing the Clause, that under this procedure, unlike procedure here, there is only one inquiry. There is no opportunity for omissions in the first inquiry to be put right in a subsequent inquiry before a Committee of the other House. As there are not these two inquiries in Scotland which are open to any party interested in a Private Bill in London, it seems to me that there is considerable justification for the Secretary of State being entitled after the first inquiry to make such Amendments as are necessary. I think the matter is kept in order by the undertaking given that this power will only be used in cases where it is really necessary, and I imagine that it will only be used in most cases with the consent of the promoters or other persons interested in the Amendments. Therefore, I think it would be unwise to press the new Clause.