HC Deb 27 November 1922 vol 159 cc251-2

On or before the Fifteenth day of December immediately preceding the Application for a Bill for power to take any Lands, or Houses compulsorily or for compulsory user of the same, or for an extension of the time granted by any former Act for that purpose, or to impose an improvement charge on any Lands or Houses, or to render any Lands or Houses liable to the imposition of an improvement charge, application in writing shall be made to the Owners or reputed Owners, Lessees or reputed Lessees, and Occupiers of all such Lands and Houses, inquiring whether they assent, dissent, or are neuter in respect of such application; and in cases of Bills included in the second class, such application shall be, as nearly as may be, in the form set forth in the Appendix marked (A).

The CHAIRMAN of WAYS and MEANS (Mr. James Hope)

I beg to move to leave out the words "application in writing shall be made," and to insert instead thereof the words "notice in writing of the application shall be given."

This is the first of a series of Amendments the object of which is to make certain alterations in the procedure relating to Private Bills. I may say that I do not propose to-day to move the last of them, which relates to the fees to be paid by the applicants for a Provisional Order, but the others really hang together, and cover quite a small point. When the notices previous to a Bill being deposited are served on the owners of property who are affected by the Bill, it is necessary to prepare a list of those who agree, those who disagree, and those who are neutral. Experience has shown that these lists are of very little value, and the Amendments which I propose would dispense with the preparation and publication of such lists. The sole object is to simplify and cheapen the procedure, to make it less expensive and less cumbrous. As almost every Private Bill involves a good deal of direct or indirect employment, it is very desirable at the present time that this kind of legislation should be made as easy as possible. I may say that in the House of Lords these alterations have already been accepted.

Mr. W. THORNE

Is there any urgency for these particular Amendments? Could they stand over till to-morrow, in order to give some of us the chance of examining them with the Standing Orders and seeing whether they are really material? I myself have not had a chance of comparing the Amendments with the Standing Orders, and I think they might be allowed to stand over till to-morrow, so that we may see whether any really fundamental alteration is taking place.

Mr. HOPE

I have no objection at all to their standing over till to-morrow, but it is desirable that they should be passed as soon as possible, so that the revised Standing Orders may be reprinted.

Mr. THORNE

Can I move that all these Amendments stand over?

Mr. SPEAKER

If the hon. Member objects, they cannot be taken.

Mr. THORNE

I object.