HC Deb 29 January 1929 vol 224 cc893-4
Sir E. TURTON

I beg to move, in page 79, line 33, at the end, to insert the words: Provided also that in any case in which, during the 12 months ending on the 31st day of March, 1930, a district council has failed to expend or to contract to expend for the purposes of such roads in their district a sum less than 95 per cent. of the amount estimated by the district council to be required for such purposes during that period, the difference between the said 95 per cent. of the amount so estimated and the amount actually expended or contracted to be expended during such period shall be deducted from the liabilities referred to in paragraph (d) of this Sub-section, and shall remain a liability to be discharged by the district council. I am not at all sure that this Clause will be a workable Clause, but I do not propose to press the Amendment which I have set down. I should take it as a kindness, however, if the right hon. Gentleman the Minister of Transport would give an assurance, first, whether he has power if any district council is in default in dealing with the roads to deal with that district council, and, second, whether, in the event of it becoming necessary for him to use these powers, he will do so.

The MINISTER of TRANSPORT (Colonel Ashley)

I can, of course, give the hon. Baronet the assurance that I have power to withhold the grant, and that, if necessary, I would withhold it from a district council, but I do not anticipate that it will be necessary for me to do so.

Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.

Mr. CHAMBERLAIN

I beg to move, in page 80, line 7, to leave out the words "A district council shall pay to the county council."

The object of this and the two following Amendments is to deal with the unexhausted balances of loans. There may be cases in which both districts which are interested are inside the same county, and, in that case, it would be obviously unfair that the unexhausted part of the balance should go to the county council. It is to correct that that these Amendments are being proposed.

Amendment agreed to.

Further Amendments made:

In page 80, line 8, leave out the words "to the," and insert instead thereof the words "or payable to a."

In line 18, leave out the words "is unexhausted on the appointed day," and insert instead thereof the words: has not, on the appointed day, been exhausted or applied in or towards the discharge of liabilities transferred to the county council under this Section, or which would have been so transferred if undischarged, shall, in the case of a sum paid or payable to the district council by another district council within the county, be repaid to that council, and in any other case be paid to the county council."—[Mr. Chamberlain.]

Mr. CHAMBERLAIN

I beg to move, in page 80, line 32, to leave out the words "it was paid or," and to insert instead thereof the words "the alteration of boundaries or other change took effect and."

This and the next, Amendment have to be read together, and the effect of them is that the period of 20 years alluded to in the Sub-section is to date from the alteration of the boundaries. The actual change of the burden takes place when the alteration of boundaries takes place, and it is, therefore, proper that the term of 20 years should begin from that date.

Amendment agreed to.

Further Amendment made:

In page 80, leave out from the word "instalments" in line 33, to the word "one-twentieth" in line 34.—[Mr. Chamberlain.]