§ "Where applications made by any authorised undertakers for consent to the placing of any electric line above ground and way-leaves have not been agreed with the owners or occupiers of any land proposed to be crossed by a line, the undertakers may serve notice in accordance with the provisions of Section twenty-two of the Electricity (Supply) Act, 1919, of their proposal to place the line, and the Minister of Transport may proceed concurrently under Sections twenty-one and twenty-two of the Electricity (Supply) Act, 1919, in respect of consent to the placing of the line overhead and to the wayleave, and any hearing afforded to the parties concerned shall he in respect of both questions."—[Sir J. Dawson.]
§ Brought up, and read the First time.
§ Sir PHILIP DAWSONBefore moving the Second Reading of the Clause, I wish to point out that it is my intention not to move the Clause as it stands on the Paper, but to leave out the words
in respect of consent to the placing of the line overhead and to the wayleave, and any hearing afforded to the parties concerned shall be in respect of both questions.
§ Mr. SPEAKERThe alteration suggested by the hon. Member will have to be made by way of Amendment, if the House read the New Clause a Second time. The hon. Member must move it as it appears on the Order Paper.
§ Sir P. DAWSONI beg to move, "That the Clause be read a Second time."
The object of the New Clause is to save time in connection with the construction of overhead lines. It will not 971 deprive any owners or occupiers of land of any rights which they possess to-day. It simply means that instead of holding two inquiries with regard to overhead lines and wayleaves, there will be one inquiry into both matters.
§ Mr. WADDINGTONI beg to second the Motion.
§ The MINISTER of TRANSPORT (Colonel Ashley)The Government are prepared to accept the new Clause with the omission of the words indicated in the speech of the hon. Member who moved it. I think the House will agree that this small though necessary Amendment will make for economy and speed. At the present time, if an authorised undertaker wishes to obtain permission to place lines overhead and not underground, he has to apply to the Minister, who will hold an inquiry for the purpose of ascertaining the views of the local inhabitants. After the inquiry, there is another investigation in regard to way-leaves, assuming that the Minister has approved the placing of overhead lines. This new Clause will provide that there shall be one inquiry with regard to these two matters: it will save money and make for efficiency.
§ Question put, and agreed to.
§ Sir P. DAWSONI beg to move, to leave out from "1919" in line 7 to the end of the Clause.
§ Mr. WADDINGTONI beg to second the Amendment.
§ Amendment agreed to.
§ Clause, as amended, added to the Bill.
§ Mr. SPEAKERThe next Clause—(Saving for tramway generating stations)—which stands in the name of the hon. Member for South Derbyshire (Sir J. Grant) is an Amendment. to Clause 4. I observe that the hon. Member has it clown in that place.
That disposes of the new Clauses.
§ Mr. HARDIEDoes this new Clause in the name of the hon. Member for South Derbyshire become an Amendment to Clause 4?
§ Mr. SPEAKERIt will come up as an Amendment to that Clause.
§ Mr. HARDIENot as a new Clause.
§ Mr. SPEAKERNot as a new Clause.