§ 2.55 P.m.
§ Sir J. LambI beg to move, in page 45, line 34, leave out "to," and insert "—three and" The Amendment removes Sections 30, 31, and 32 of the Public Health Act, 1925, from the operation of this Bill. These Sections are very valuable to the local authorities, and I wish to remove them from the Bill, so that it will not be necessary for the Minister to do so at a later period. Under the 1932 Act they were included, but representations were made to the then Minister of Health as to the effect this would have on the work of the local authorities, and consequently, in the model Clauses on town planning which he issued, the Minister excluded them. That is what we are asking for now. Section 30 dealt with the declaration of streets as new streets. That was very valuable to the local authorities. Section 31 dealt with the width of streets in certain cases—again a matter for the discretion of the local authorities; and Section 32 related to the width of streets where buildings are erected on one side of the street. These are three matters which we wish to retain for the discretion of local authorities; and, in view of the fact that a case was made to the Minister after the last Act was passed, and that he did not include them in the model Clauses which he then introduced, I ask that we might have those Sections excluded from this Bill.
§ Brigadier-General Clifton Brown (Newbury)I beg to second the Amendment.
§ 2.58 p.m.
§ The Solicitor-GeneralEveryone who heard my hon. Friend's plea must realise the importance of these Sections to the local authorities. We want to secure the greatest amount of co-operation we can; and, therefore, we are prepared, in order to assist the local authorities, to accept the Amendment.
§ Mr. WoodburnI suppose that that would not exclude the right of the major authorities to deal with main roads?
§ The Solicitor-GeneralI do not think so; but I am afraid I am not sure of that point.
Amendment agreed to.