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The Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury
stated that his Memorandum proceeded on the assump-
tion of a General Election in the summer If, s
stated by the Minister of Health, the Committee stage of the Rating Relief Bill could not be taken
until after Christmas, and if there could be only
financial legislation after Easter, then he
calculated that it would be necessary for Farlia-
rent to reassemble after Christmas on January 8th
to get through its business.
The Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry
of Health stated that further consideration had
led to the view that the programme outlined by the
Minister of Health could be advanced several days.
It was now thought that the Rating Relief Bill
could be submitted to the Committee of Home Affairs
about October 25th, and, if approved by the end of
October, the First Reading could take place shortly
after the meeting of Parliament. If two weeks were
allowed for perusal, the Second Reading and the
Financial Resolution might be taken about November
26th. In this way the first part of the Bill would
be disposed of before Christmas and the other parts
of the Pill and the Schedule could follow after
Christmas. If three days were given to the Second
Reading, that should ease the Committee stage.
Portions of the Eill would follow closely the Report
Government
on which Local
of the Royal Commission on Local Authorities are represented. Similarly, portions of the Scottish Bill, e.g., those dealing with
block grants, followed the English Bill. The
substance of both Bills had been widely explained
in advance, and perhaps a week would suffice between
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