HC Deb 08 May 1936 vol 311 cc2027-8

The provisions of section fourteen of the Allotments Extension Act, 1882, shall not apply to any land dealt with by the Charity Commissioners under the provisions of this Act.—[Sir A. Wilson.]

Brought up, and read the First time.

11.9 a.m.

Lieut.-Colonel Sir ARNOLD WILSON

I beg to move, "That the Clause be read a Second time."

Section 14 of the Allotments Extension Act, 1882, reads as follows: Where a scheme is made by the Charity Commissioners after the passing of this Act in relation to any charity, and part of the endowment of such charity consists of land other than buildings and the appurtenances of buildings, the Charity Commissioners shall insert in such scheme a provision authorising the trustees of the Charity to set apart portions of the said lands for allotments and the same may be set apart and let as allotments in like manner as is directed by this Act. Since that Act was passed in 1882 the whole system of allotments has been altered. It is a mere survival of a far distant past, when land for allotments was very hard to get. It is an embarrassment to any trustee to be compelled to put in a provision of this sort. Although it is optional to have to provide it, it is bound in these days, when county councils and borough councils have quite independent powers to acquire and provide land for allotments, to cause a certain amount of legal difficulties and correspondence, and sometimes heart-burning and heart-searching. I suggest to the promoters of the Bill that they would be well advised to give the trustees of hospitals the little extra freedom that this new Clause would give them, by not requiring the Charity Commissioners to put into all their documents so far as they concern hospitals a provision which has long ceased to have any real value.

Mr. GLUCKSTEIN

I beg to second the Motion.

11.10 a.m.

Mr. STOREY

I hope the House will not agree to accept the proposed new Clause, because it is unnecessary and inappropriate. The scheme of the Bill is that the Charity Commissioners may make orders authorising the committee of management of a hospital to provide or maintain on land belonging to the hospital new buildings, or existing buildings, or parts of buildings, for the accommodation and treatment of paying patients. This will be done by an Order of the Commissioners, which is expressly provided for in the Bill, and I am advised that it will not be a scheme which will come under Section 14 of the Allotments Extension Act, 1882. Therefore, I submit that the Clause is unnecessary and inappropriate, and I hope the House will not agree to it.

Question, "That the Clause be read a Second time," put, and negatived.