HC Deb 10 August 1914 vol 65 cc2287-8

(1) The Board of Agriculture and Fisheries in agricultural districts and the Local Government Board elsewhere shall have power during the period of one year from the passing of this Act to acquire, with the consent of the Treasury and after consultation with the Development Commissioners, land and buildings for housing purposes, and, with the consent of the Treasury, shall have power to dispose of any land or buildings so acquired.

(2) The Board of Agriculture and Fisheries and the Local Government Board respectively shall have power to do all other things which may appear to them necessary or desirable for housing purposes in connection with any land or buildings so acquired, and to make any arrangements for housing purposes with any local authority or authorised society within the meaning of this Act.

Mr. HERBERT SAMUEL

I beg to move, in Sub-section (1), to leave out the words "after consultation with," and insert instead thereof the words "with the concurrence of."

Question, "That the words proposed to be left out stand part of the Clause," put, and negatived.

An HON. MEMBER

No, no!

The CHAIRMAN

The hon. Member was too late.

Question, "That those words be there inserted," put, and agreed to.

Mr. HAYES FISHER

I beg to move, at the end, to add the words "Provided that neither the Board of Agriculture and Fisheries nor the Local Government Board shall, in the exercise of their powers under this Act, in any case themselves build any dwellings unless they are satisfied after holding a public local inquiry that in that case there is insufficient dwelling accommodation for the working classes or that the existing accommodation is unsuitable, and that dwelling accommodation cannot be otherwise satisfactorily provided."

I do not think the local inquiry need take more than a day or two, so that there would not be any delay.

Question, "That those words be there inserted," put, and agreed to.

Clause, as amended, added to the Bill.