HC Deb 01 August 1947 vol 441 cc838-9

Lords Amendment: In page 49, line 30, at end insert: (6) Provision may be made by regulations under this Act for requiring the Central Land Board to keep a register containing such particulars as may be prescribed by the regulations of land acquired and disposed of under this section, and for the inspection of any such register by the public on payment of such reasonable fee, if any, as may be so prescribed.

Motion made, and Question proposed, "That this House doth agree with the Lords in the said Amendment."

1.30 p.m.

Mr. Manningham-Buller

I want to ask the right hon. Gentleman one question in regard to this new Subsection. Under Subsection (1) of this Clause, the Central Land Board may acquire land for the purpose of disposing of it for development on terms inclusive of any development charge payable under those provisions in respect of that development. This proposed Amendment prescribes the keeping of a register containing particulars of land acquired and disposed of under this Clause. In that register will a development charge which may be included under Subsection (1) be shown separately? I think it should be. Provision is made by Subsection (1) for what I call an inclusive transaction. When we come to the register, persons inspecting it should be able to distinguish between what has been received in payment for any development charge and what in fact has been received for the land. I only raise this point quite shortly because I feel hopeful that this time the right hon. Gentleman will be able to give an undertaking that the register will be kept in that form.

Mr. Silkin

I am not able to give an undertaking on this point because I am not sure at the moment whether it would involve a separate examination. I am quite prepared to examine the point, and if it will not involve either any disadvantage to the public interest or any undue amount of work, certainly I will agree that it should be done.

Mr. Manningham-Buller

May I put one other point? Surely, it would be to the advantage of the Central Land Board and to the public to keep the two things separate from the point of view of looking back to see what the development charge was and what the price of the land was?

Mr. Silkin

I will take that into consideration.