HC Deb 03 May 1939 vol 346 cc1922-4

5.8 p.m.

The Minister of Health (Mr. Elliot)

I beg to move, in page 2, line 22, at the end, to insert, and also any land reasonably necessary for, the preservation of the amenities of any land acquired or proposed to be acquired for such purposes. In the Committee stage of the Bill an Amendment was moved by the hon. Membar for East Wolverhampton (Mr. Mander) to enable recognised companies to buy land adjacent to a camp site in order to preserve the amenities of the site. We had a discussion of some length on that Amendment, and in the end I undertook to consider the matter further before the Report stage. In consequence I am moving this Amendment. I think that it fully meets the points which were made on various sides of the Committee. There is no doubt that the Bill as it stands makes it possible to acquire land for necessary playing fields and for any expansion of the camp which may be desirable in an emergency. It does not provide specifically for the acquisition of land for preserving the amenities of the camp, and it was strongly stressed that that should be mentioned in the terms of the Statute. In view of the strong support from all sides of the House for a power of this kind we have put down this Amendment. It confers on the companies, subject to the approval of the central Department, which was included in the original Amendment, powers of purchase, if necessary by compulsion, for the purpose of preserving amenities. The land must be reasonably necessary for the purpose in question. That suggestion was made by the hon. Member for Derby (Mr. Noel-Baker) in Committee, and it will prevent any undue or excessive exercise of the power. Then, of course, the financial resources of the companies are limited. We do not want to spend too much money by buying up ground, because we want to get ahead with the construction of the camps.

Perhaps a word of warning is necessary that all these proposals for extending sites, improving the conditions, and so on naturally add to the cost of the camps. So does anything in the way of improvements in design and lay-out. We are as anxious as anyone to make sure that the lay-out and design are satisfactory and that the standard of accommodation which is provided is such as to enable the children from the great cities to get the utmost benefit and enjoyment from their stay in the countryside. We believe that with the help of our skilled advisers we shall fully secure these objects. But all these things cost money, and I warn the House that the original calculations, which were made at a time when the details were not fully worked out and had to be based on the experience of other camps, may prove to be an under-estimate. I have carefully considered the suggestion made from many quarters during the Committee stage that a person of experience in planning should be added to the board. I was anxious that we should not inflate the membership of the board or ask the board to multiply itself unduly, but if the addition is limited to one extra person, that will not affect the working power of the board. Consequently, I put this question before Lord Portal, the chairman of the board of management, and I understand that the proposal to appoint an additional director with the qualifications mentioned will be favourably recommended by the chairman and by the managing director at the next meeting of the board, which will take place early next week.

5.12 p.m.

Mr. Noel-Baker

I want to thank the Minister for what he has said. It seems to me that the Amendment should fully meet the case of the hon. Member for East Wolverhampton (Mr. Mander), and it is satisfactory to me and my hon. Friends. I also thank the right hon. Gentleman for the announcement that he proposes to add another director to the board of management.

Mr. Elliot

I do not wish it to be understood that I am doing it; I have merely suggested it.

Mr. Noel-Baker

That satisfies us, and I am sure that the action the right hon. Gentleman has taken will protect a vital national interest.

Mr. Mander

I am entirely satisfied with the Amendment which the right hon. Gentleman has moved. It meets the point I had in mind when I moved my Amendment in Committee, and I am grateful to him. I am glad to hear the right hon. Gentleman say that there is a good hope of another director of the company, who will be a specialist in planning work, being appointed. It will meet the criticism of those on all sides who spoke about this matter in Committee. With these two changes the Bill has been made entirely satisfactory.

5.14 p.m.

Mr. H. Strauss

I should like to offer a word of congratulation and thanks to the Minister as one of those who troubled him on the Committee stage when we had a long discussion on these points. I should also like to correct one point which he made just now. He said that all these things cost more money and mentioned good design as one of them. That is a complete delusion and one from which the Minister's Department often suffers. Houses and buildings of good design need cost no more money than those of bad design. The things that offend our countryside are not the cheapest buildings but very often the more expensive.

Amendment agreed to.

5.15 p.m.

Lieut.-Colonel Acland-Troyte

I beg to move, in page 3, line 5, after "every," to insert "county and of every."

Provision is made in the Bill for notice to be given to borough councils and urban and rural district councils, but there is no provision for notice to be given to county councils, and as they are the highway authorities I think it is desirable that notice should be given to them. I understand the Minister is prepared to accept this Amendment.

Mr. Spens

I beg to second the Amendment.

Mr. Elliot

I recommend the House to accept this Amendment. It is obviously desirable that a county council should be given notice as well as borough and district councils, all the more so since, as my hon. and gallant Friend said, it is the highway authority.

Amendment agreed to.