TOWN AND COUNTRY PLANNING (SCOTLAND) BILL (Hansard, 5 August 1947)

§ The Joint Under-Secretary of State for Scotland (Mr. Buchanan)

I beg to move, "That the Lords Amendments be now considered."

It might be for the convenience of the House if I made a statement on the Amendments proposed from another place. All told, there are 157 of them, but only about 12 involve any change of substance, and only in regard to three of them do we find ourselves in major disagreement. It will be necessary for us to move that we disagree with the Lords in respect of those three Amendments. One of the three deals with "dead ripe" land, the second with an independent tribunal, and the third with minerals. On the question of the other Amendments, it would be my purpose if either side of the House wishes to raise any points, to explain the changes and to give the House a fair explanation. I trust that with that explanation the House can now accept the Motion.

§ Lieut.-Colonel Elliot (Scottish Universities)

We certainly agree not only with the Motion but that the same procedure which has been of convenience to the House in the case of the Bill just passed, should be followed for this Measure. This side of the House would desire not to waste time on the consideration of those Amendments which are to be agreed, in order to reserve time for the discussion for the three points of substance which, as the Joint Under-Secretary has said, still remain to be discussed and decided. There is no doubt that the Bill is improved as the result of the consideration in another place. Many of the Amendments which have been inserted were discussed here. On some the Minister saw his way to give a pledge but on some he did not; but the result of the consideration has been to the advantage of the Measure and, therefore, to the advantage of the people of Scotland. There is every reason for us to proceed now, and I do not think the proceedings should be unduly protracted.