HC Deb 05 August 1947 vol 441 cc1344-5

Lords Amendment: In page 60, line 6, after "gardens," insert: any garden exceeding one-quarter acre occupied together with a house and used mainly or wholly as an allotment garden.

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

Mr. J. S. C. Reid

As I raised this point during our all-night sitting, I should like to express appreciation of the fact that an Amendment has been put in to meet the point I raised. I am not very happy about the phrase, "allotment garden," but I realise the drafting difficulty and I hope that it will work out all right.

Mr. Buchanan

This matter gave me some concern because on the Scottish Grand Committee the right hon. and learned Gentleman took exception to the phrase relating to the labouring classes. We replied promptly on the Report stage by deleting any reference. The right hon. and learned Gentleman then thought we were going too far. I think this is as near a definition as we can get with fairness. At least, it has the merit that it takes the definition away from the individual and places it on the land. In the circumstances I think we have done our best to meet him on the point.