HC Deb 05 August 1942 vol 382 cc1017-8
27. Mr. Bossom

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Works and Planning whether he will give an assurance that no developments his Ministry contemplates as a result of either Lord Justice Scott's or Mr. Justice Uthwatt's Report will be put into operation before this House has had an opportunity of debating them?

The Joint Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Works and Planning (Mr. Henry Strauss)

Neither Report has yet been received, and it is impossible to consider any action as a result of these Reports until they have been received and studied. I do not know what my hon. Friend means by developments, but if what he has in mind is the possibility of legislation by Order in Council, I would refer him to the Answer which I gave him on 22nd July, 1942.

Mr. Bossom

Seeing that these Reports have been waiting now for over a year, and that the matter has caused great interest throughout the country, cannot the House be given an opportunity of debating them before any action is taken in connection with them?

Mr. Strauss

I hope the Reports will be received very soon, but it is possible that they might contain some suggestion for an improvement in my Department, and in such a case I do not suppose the House would wish my noble Friend to delay action upon it.

Brigadier-General Clifton Brown

Would it not be impossible to put any of the Reports into action without Parliament considering them?

Mr. Strauss

That is the point of the beginning of my reply. I quite agree that when these Reports are received they will have to be most carefully studied before action can be taken upon them.

Mr. Glenvil Hall

That is not the question. The Question is whether the House will be given an opportunity to debate them before anything is done.

Mr. Strauss

If the hon. Member looks at the Question, he will see that that is not so. It is not whether a Report will be adopted, but whether any develop- ments will be put into operation. That is in very wide terms. I have informed the House that no permanent changes in the law of town and country planning can possibly be effected without coming to the House for legislation. I do not wish to give an undertaking in wider terms than the House would desire.

Mr. Stephen

Can we have an assurance that the Reports will be given this Session?