§ 36. Sir Richard Aclandasked the Minister of Town and Country Planning whether he is satisfied that a development charge is rightly asked from Mr. Leonard, of Meopham, particulars of whose case have been sent him showing that he built riding stables on his land in 1938 and, since being prevented from securing feedingstuffs for horses, has converted these into bungalows.
§ Mr. SilkinI regret that I cannot undertake to answer Questions about individual cases involving payment of development charge. These are the responsibility of the Central Land Board. I am however, arranging for the views of the Board to be communicated to my hon. Friend.
§ Sir R. AclandAs there is a principle involved in this in that the man in question was encouraged to go ahead by the local valuer who advised him confidently that no development charge would be made, will the Minister do his utmost to make sure that the decision when reached by the Land Board is in favour of this man?
§ Mr. SilkinI have explained that I cannot deal with an individual case, but in so far as any question of principle is involved, I will certainly look into the question.
§ Sir R. AclandCan the Minister give us an idea when the date of this will be because it has been before the right hon. Gentleman and the Land Board for some months?
§ Mr. SilkinI will do my best to expedite the matter.
§ Mr. DribergOn a point of Order. Does my right hon. Friend's answer mean that this is a further restriction on the right of back benchers to ask Questions 1850 of Ministers, and that the Table will in future refuse Questions of this nature?
§ Mr. SpeakerI have no idea. This is the first time I have heard this answer, and, therefore, I should like to have time to consider it.
§ Mr. DribergMay I give notice to my right hon. Friend that if he does find it necessary to refuse to answer Questions of this kind, and to refuse responsibility for them, it merely means that the list of Adjournment Motion subjects will be very gravely overloaded, because they will all have to be raised on the Adjournment?
§ Mr. Boyd-CarpenterDoes the right hon. Gentleman's undertaking to look into cases where questions of principle arise, mean that he is willing to answer Questions affecting individual cases which also raise a special principle?
§ Mr. SilkinNo, Sir, it does not. I have said quite clearly that I cannot undertake to answer Questions about individual cases. In this particular case, I am informed that a question of principle is involved, and I will discuss that question of principle with the Central Land Board.
§ Mr. Emrys RobertsDoes the Minister's answer imply that he will examine every individual case where a matter of principle arises?
§ Mr. SilkinNo, Sir, it does not imply that. The individual cases are the responsibility of the Central Land Board, and I am not prepared to take that responsibility away from them. But where a question of principle arises, then I think it is right that they should be considered.
§ Mr. Oliver StanleyCan the right hon. Gentleman say who decides when a question of principle arises? Is it the hon. Member who puts the Question who takes the responsibility of saying that a question of principle is involved, or does the right hon. Gentleman have to examine the case in order to see whether that principle is there or not?
§ Mr. SilkinI have to make the decision, and I make it on such information as comes to me in a variety of ways.
§ Mrs. Leah ManningOn a point of Order. May I ask, Mr. Speaker, if you will be ruling that the Central Land Board now falls within the same category as the nationalised industries?
§ Mr. SpeakerI cannot answer such questions offhand. I should like notice of that.
§ Sir Waldron SmithersOn a point of Order. May I ask, Mr. Speaker, whether you have noticed the growing revolt on the back benches of the Labour Party?
§ Mr. SpeakerThat is not a point of Order.
§ Sir R. AclandIn view of the merits of this case, and in order to test the position of the Minister in this matter, I wish to give notice that I shall try to raise this matter on the Adjournment.