§ 6.21 p.m.
Lord LucasMy Lords, I beg to move that the House do now resolve itself into Committee on this Bill.
Moved, That the House do now resolve itself into Committee. —(Lord Lucas.)
On Question, Motion agreed to.
House in Committee accordingly.
§ [The DEPUTY CHAIRMAN OF COMMITTEES(Lord Dean of Harptree) in the Chair.]
§ Clause 1 [Caravans and boats occupied as sole or main residence]:
§
Lord Lucas moved Amendment No. 1:
Page 1, line 20, at end insert—
("(4A) Subsection (3) or (4) above does not have effect in the case of a pitch occupied by a caravan, or a mooring occupied by a boat, which is an appurtenance enjoyed with other property to which subsection (1)(a) above applies.").
§ The noble Lord said: The purpose of the amendment is to show that we listen to the noble Lord, Lord Dubs, sometimes; and, incidentally, to ensure that pitches occupied by caravans or moorings occupied by boats which are part of a larger domestic property—such as a house with a river frontage with mooring—will be considered as appurtenances to the main property. They will, therefore, be domestic property. Without this amendment any such pitches or moorings would be non-domestic property and subject to non-domestic rates. I beg to move.
§ Lord DubsClearly, I welcome the amendment and thank the Minister for having responded to what was said at Second Reading and for the letter that he sent me explaining in some detail the thinking underlying the amendment.
199 In so far as I understand the technicalities, I believe that it is an improvement on the Bill. I support the amendment.
On Question, amendment agreed to.
§
Lord Lucas moved Amendment No. 2:
Page 2, line 11, leave out ("or 1st April 1995") and insert ("1st April 1995 or 1st April 1996").
§ The noble Lord said: In moving Amendment No. 2, I speak also to Amendment No. 3. These amendments apply the Bill's provisions to the new post-reorganisation rating lists in Wales. These lists will have effect from 1st April 1995 but were compiled on 1st April 1996. I beg to move.
§ On Question, amendment agreed to.
§
Lord Lucas moved Amendment No. 3:
Page 2, line 14, leave out ("1st April 1995 (as the case may be)") and insert ("in the case of lists compiled on 1st April 1995 or 1st April 1996, from 1st April 1995").
§ On Question, amendment agreed to.
§ Clause 1, as amended, agreed to.
§ Remaining clauses agreed to.
§ House resumed: Bill reported with amendments.