§ 30. Mr. Bossomasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Works and Planning whether he will assure the House that no law or regulation, based on a Report or otherwise, affecting postwar building or planning, will be enacted by an Order in Council without giving the House an opportunity of debating such a measure?
§ Mr. H. StraussI assume that what my hon. Friend has in mind are Orders in Council under the Emergency Powers (Defence) Acts, 1939 and 1940. The powers conferred by these Acts are temporary powers and any Order in Council made thereunder can be made the subject 23 of Debate in the House. I do not know whether my hon. Friend has any particular type of provision in mind, but I do not think it would be possible to give an assurance in such wide terms as are contained in his Question.
§ Mr. BossomCan my hon. Friend explain why, when the House is in Recess, his Department should make Orders that will apply after the war is over?
§ Mr. StraussI have no idea why my hon. Friend assumes that such Orders are to be made in the Recess. Permanent changes in the law of town and country planning clearly cannot be effected by Orders in Council. It is, however, impossible to say what regulations may have to be made during the war for economising man-power, saving materials and other purposes; it is equally impossible to guarantee that these will not indirectly affect post-war building or planning, and for that reason I cannot give the assurance asked for.
§ Mr. BossomCannot my hon. Friend really say—
§ Mr. Speaker rose—