HC Deb 25 November 1925 vol 188 cc1337-8
The CHAIRMAN of WAYS and MEANS (Mr. James Hope)

I beg to move, in page 261, line 25, to leave out the words "for the execution of a work "

As hon. Members will recollect, or the August I brought forward a proposal for slight increases in the fees paid by promoters of Private Bills. Objection was taken that sufficient notice had not been given of these increases, and I thereupon postponed them, putting them down again last week. I may say that they are all agreed to by the parties concerned—by the Parliamentary agents and by the Association of Municipal Corporations. The principal one puts a somewhat heavier charge upon promoters who wish to take large capital powers under a Bill; it is merely raising the scale in the higher degrees to those who seek to get large capital powers from Parliament. There is a smaller proposal that, whether the promoters appear by counsel or by Parlia- mentary agents, they shall pay the same amount; and there is an increase in the charges for inspection and copying of documents, the cost of which services has increased. I have heard of no opposition to these proposals since the 7th August, and I accordingly move.

Captain WEDGWOOD BENN

On the previous occasion on which this was moved, the right hon. Gentleman was not able to assure us that the Scottish authorities had been consulted. Since then I have asked the Edinburgh City Council, and they inform me that they have no objection whatever to the change. I have, therefore, no objection to the proposed Amendment.

Mr. LANSBURY

May I ask the Chairman of Ways and Means whether these fees go into the Treasury, or who gets them?

The CHAIRMAN of WAYS and MEANS

The Treasury.

Amendment agreed to.

Further Amendments made:

In page 262, leave out lines 5 and 6, and insert instead thereof the words

"If the sum be £1,000,000 and under £2,000,000, four times the amount of such. Fees.

If the sum be £2,000,000 and under £5,000,000, five times the amount of such Fees.

If the sum be £5,000,000 and above, six times the amount of such Fees."

In page 262, leave out lines 9 to 13 inclusive, and insert instead thereof: —

£ s. d.
"For every day on which the Court of Referees or any Committee other than the Committee on Unopposed Bills shall sit … 10 0 0
For every day on which the Committee on Unopposed Bills shall sit … 5 0 0"

In page 263, line 17, leave out "2s. 6d.", and insert instead thereof "3s. 9d."

In line 18, leave out "6d.", and insert instead thereof "9d."

In line 20, leave out "£l 0s. 0d.", and insert instead thereof "£1 10s. 0d."

In line 22, leave out "5s. 0d.", and insert instead thereof "7s. 6d."—[The Chairman of Ways and Means.]