HC Deb 08 May 1946 vol 422 cc1185-6

Considered in Standing Committee under Standing Order No. 69.

[Major MILNER in the Chair]

Motion made, and Question proposed, That for the purposes of any Act of the present Session to provide for the creation of new towns by means of development corporations, and for purposes connected therewith, it is expedient to authorise:—

  1. The issue out of the Consolidated Fund of sums required for making advances to development corporations, not exceeding in the aggregate fifty million pounds, for purposes of capital expenditure;
  2. The payment out of moneys provided by Parliament of grants to such corporations, of such amounts as may be approved by the Treasury, for purposes of expenditure other than capital expenditure;
  3. The payment out of moneys provided by Parliament of any annual Exchequer contributions under the Housing (Financial and Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 1946, or the Housing (Financial Provisions) (Scotland) Act, 1946, and of any sums equivalent to such contributions, payable by virtue of the provisions of the said Act of the present Sessions—

  1. in respect of houses provided by a development corporation in accordance with arrangements made with a local authority under section ninety-four of the Housing Act, 1936, or under section twenty-six of the Housing (Scotland) Act. 1935:
  2. in respect of houses provided by a development corporation otherwise than in accordance with such arrangements, being houses approved by the Minister of Health or the Secretary of State for the purposes of the Housing (Financial and Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 1946, or the Housing (Financial Provisions) (Scotland) Act, 1946, as the case may be;
  3. The payment out of moneys provided by Parliament of any sums authorised or required to be so paid by virtue of any of the provisions of the Town and Country Planning Act, 1944, or the Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act, 1945, as applied by the said Act of the present Session, including sums payable into the Road Fund for the purpose of defraying expenditure out of that Fund under any of those provisions;
  4. The payment out of moneys provided by Parliament of any administrative expenses incurred by the Minister of Town and Country Planning or by the Secretary of State for the purposes of the said Act of the present Session;
  5. The raising of money by the Treasury, in any manner in which they are authorised to raise money under the National Loans Act, 1939, for the purpose of providing sums to be issued out of the Consolidated Fund as mentioned in this Resolution, or of providing for the replacement of sums so issued;
    6. 1186
  6. The payment into the Exchequer of sums received by the Minister of Town and Country Planning or by the Secretary of State by way of interest on or repayment of the principal of advances made to development corporations under the said Act of the present Session; the issue out of the Consolidated Fund of any sums so paid into the Exchequer; and the application of any such sums, in so far as they represent principal, in redemption or repayment of debt, or, in so far as they represent interest, in payment of interest which would otherwise be payable out of the permanent annual charge for the National Debt;
  7. The reduction of the liability of a development corporation in respect of such advances in any case where such a reduction appears to the Minister of Town and Country Planning or the Secretary of State to be expedient having regard to any agreement made or to be made for the transfer to a local authority or statutory undertakers of any part of the undertaking of the corporation;
  8. The payment into the Exchequer of any surplus, or the payment out of moneys provided by Parliament of any deficit, arising from the winding up of a development corporation."—(King's Recommendation signified.)—[Mr. Silkin.]

Captain Crookshank (Gainsborough)

There is not time tonight, but there are one or two questions we might want to put on this matter. We hope that arrangements may be possible to raise them on the Report stage if that is found necessary.

Mr. Silkin

indicated assent.

Question put, and agreed to.

Resolution to be reported Tomorrow.