HC Deb 28 July 1919 vol 118 cc1897-8

(3)If the local authority fail to prepare a scheme to the satisfaction of the Board within such time as may be prescribed by the Order, or to enforce the observance of the scheme or any provisions thereof effectively, or to execute any such works as aforesaid, the Board may either authorise the county council to act, or may themselves act in the place and at the expense of the local authority.

Lords Amendment (as amended in Commons): After the word "Act," insert the words or in the case of a borough, or other urban direct, the population of which is less than20,000, may, if the Board think fit by Order, empower the county council to act.

Lords Amendment to Amendment, as amended,

After "20,000" insert the words "or of a rural district."

Major ASTOR

I beg to move, That this House doth agree with the Lords in the said Amendment.

Mr. A. WILLIAMS

I cannot make out where this comes in, and I would like to have an assurance that it dons not affect the Amendment which I moved in a previous stage, putting urban district councils on the same footing.

Major ASTOR

If the hon. Member will look at the previous copy of the Lords Amendment he will find the words actually set out. In the case of certain default on the part of urban councils county councils are empowered to act, and it was rather absurd if urban councils were put under county councils in case of default that rural district councils should not be. This merely empowers the county council to act also in certain cases in connection with rural district councils. There is no point of substance in it.

Mr. WILLIAMS

In the last stage we agreed to certain words so as to put urban and rural councils on the same footing. Does the population of 20,000 of an urban council apply also to a rural district council?

Major ASTOR

This applies to boroughs and urban councils with a population of less than 20,000 and to rural councils.

Question put, and agreed to.

Ordered, That a Committee be appointed to draw up reasons for disagreeing to one of their Amendments to the Bill.

Committee nominated of Major Astor.

Mr. A. Williams, Sir Kingsley Wood, Major Barnston, and Mr. A. Short.

Three to be the quorum.

To withdraw immediately.—[Major Astor.]

Reason for disagreeing to one of the Lords Amendments reported later, and agreed to.

To be communicated to the Lords. —[Major Astor.]