HC Deb 15 July 1943 vol 391 cc410-1

Lords Amendment: In page 3, line 7, leave out from "within" to "notice," and insert "those two months."

The Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Town and County Planning (Mr. Henry Strauss)

I beg to move, "That this House doth agree with the Lords in the said Amendment."

This is purely a drafting Amendment.

Question put, and agreed to.

Lords Amendment: In page 3, line 17, leave out "by" and insert "in proceedings instituted before."

Mr. H. Strauss

I beg to move, "That this House doth agree with the Lords in the said Amendment."

This is a drafting Amendment.

Question put, and agreed to.

Lords Amendment: In page 3, line 21, at the end, insert: of the Minister, or, as the case may be, to the date of the final determination of the proceedings.

Mr. H. Strauss

I beg to move, "That this House doth agree with the Lords in the said Amendment."

This is also a drafting Amendment.

Question put, and agreed to.

Lords Amendment: In page 3, line 28, at the end, insert: (5) Nothing in this section shall be construed as affecting the duty of an interim development authority—

  1. (a) to take into consideration with reasonable dispatch all interim development applications made to them, other than applications the consideration of which is postponed under the provisions of this section or which are referred to the Minister for decision in accordance with the subsequent provisions of this Act; and
  2. (b) to give notice to the applicant of their decision upon the consideration of any such application, including, where the application is refused or granted subject to conditions, a statement of the reasons for their decision."

Mr. H. Strauss

I beg to move, "That this House doth agree with the Lords in the said Amendment."

This Amendment relates to the power of postponement of consideration of interim development applications. It is desired to make clear on the face of the Measure that this power of postponement is not intended to be used in such a way that the interim development authority neglects to consider and deal with applications with reasonable dispatch. It is clearly reasonable and makes it clear that the new power of postponement of consideration does not take away the duty of the interim development authority to take into consideration with reasonable dispatch every interim development application made to them and if they come to a decision thereon to give notice to the applicant of their decision, including where the application is refused or granted subject to conditions, a statement of the reasons for their decision. I think that the addition makes it quite clear that the new powers we are giving to interim development authorities should not be used or abused by them in order to neglect their duties in any way. I hope the House will agree to the Amendment.

Question put, and agreed to.