HC Deb 25 July 1919 vol 118 cc1717-8

(1) Where the Board are satisfied that a local authority have failed, or, in cases where a joint scheme has been or, in the opinion of the Board ought to be prepared, the local authorities concerned have failed to fulfil their duty as to the preparation of schemes under the foregoing pro visions of this Act or their obligations under any such scheme, the Board may, after considering the circumstances of the case, and after giving the local authority or authorities an opportunity of being heard, themselves prepare and carry into execution a scheme, or take such steps as may be necessary to carry into execution any scheme prepared by the local authority or by two or more local authorities jointly, and shall for that purpose have all the powers of a local authority under the Housing Acts, and those Acts shall, with the necessary modifications and adaptations, apply accordingly.

(2) Any expenses incurred by the Board in the exercise of such powers as aforesaid shall, in the first instance, be paid out of moneys provided by Parliament, but the amount certified by the Board to have been so expended, and to be properly payable by a local authority, shall on demand be paid to the Board by the local authority and shall be recoverable as a debt due to the Crown, and the sum so payable to the Board shall be a purpose for which the local authority may borrow under Part III. of the principal Act.

Mr. MUNRO

I beg to move, in Subsection (1), to leave out the word "satisfied," and to insert instead thereof the words "of opinion."

This Amendment gives effect to an undertaking which I gave in Committee that I would endeavour to provide, before the Board proceeds to pronounce a local authority in default and to carry out a housing scheme in place of the local authority, that there should first of all be an inquiry. It was pressed upon me that that inquiry should be held by an outside body or some impartial person. In order to fulfil that undertaking I put down this and the two Amendments which follow it on the Paper.

Amendment agreed to.

Further Amendments made: In Sub-section (1), leave out the words after considering the circumstances of the case, and after giving the local authority or authorities an opportunity of being heard," and insert instead thereof the words cause a public local inquiry to be held by a person appointed by the Board, not being a member of the Hoard or in their employment,, and if after the inquiry the Board are satisfied that there has been such a failure on the part of the local authority or authorities concerned, the Board may." — [Mr. Munro.]

In Sub-section (2), after the word. "and" ["and the sum so payable"], to insert the words "the payment of."—[Mr. Munro.]