§ Mr. Keeling (by Private Notice)asked the Minister of Town and Country Planning whether the Government propose to introduce an indemnity bill in respect of their failure for six weeks to lay before 1534 Parliament the far-reaching Provisional Town and Country Planning (General Interim Development) Order, 1946.
§ The Minister of Town and Country Planning (Mr. Silkin)No, Sir. No proceedings which would require an indemnity have been or would have been taken during the period in question.
§ Mr. KeelingIs the Minister aware that his mistake has had serious practical consequences, because this far-reaching Order has been in operation for six weeks, during which time it was impossible for the strong opposition to it to be voiced in the only possible way, namely, by a Prayer?
§ Mr. SilkinI am not aware of any inconvenience that has arisen as a result of it, although, of course, I regret the fact that the Order was not laid before the House.
§ Mr. Boyd-CarpenterHas the Minister any statement to make with regard to the Mountain Ash and Rhondda Provisional Town and Country Planning (Special Interim Development) Order which, although dated 19th October, 1945, was only laid on 14th March of this year, and does the right hon. Gentleman propose to take any special action in respect of this Order?
§ Mr. SilkinNo, Sir. The same question arises. Both of these Orders were not laid before the House, as a result of a misapprehension as to the exact state of the law on the subject, about which there is, if I may say so, still some doubt. No difficulty has arisen and the matter has now been rectified.
§ Mr. Boyd-CarpenterDoes the right hon. Gentleman intend to take in this connection the action which the Parliamentary Secretary took on Friday, that is to say, to apologise to the House for the error?
§ Mr. SilkinOf course, I apologise to the House. I accept the fact that it is a serious matter not to comply with the procedure required, but the question was whether any serious consequences had arisen, and the answer is "No."