HC Deb 27 July 1949 vol 467 cc2603-4

Lords Amendment: In page 3, line 25, leave out "or."

9.35 p.m.

The Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Health (Mr. Blenkinsop)

I beg to move, "That this House doth agree with the Lords in the said Amendment."

This Amendment and the next Amendment, in line 28, at the end, to insert: or (c) a house, other than as aforesaid, in respect of which there is for the time being in force a notice given by that Minister to the local authority stating that the architectural or historic interest of the house is sufficient to render it inexpedient that the house should be demolished pending determination of the question whether or not it should be made the subject of such a building preservation order as aforesaid or included in such a list as aforesaid; relate to the same subject. It was pointed out on Report that there might be a gap in providing the safeguard for houses of special historical and architectural interest, in that some houses which were not already listed but were under consideration for listing might, before the listing was carried out, be demolished. The Amendments carry out a promise to ensure that there would be a stay of execution for houses of this nature, and in these cases the Minister of Town and Country Planning will be able to issue a notice to the effect that he is taking consideration of houses of this character, to ensure that until the decision is made the houses will be retained.

Lieut.-Colonel Elliot (Scottish Universities)

The Amendment carries out a proposal made by my hon. Friend the Member for The High Peak (Mr. Molson), and we offer no objection whatever to it. Most of these Amendments are non-controversial and the Opposition would offer no objection if it were possible to put a large number of them together to the House for sanction.

Colonel Dower (Penrith and Cockermouth)

If that is to be done, may I take it that the Government intend to support the Amendment in page 3, line 31, at the end to insert: and shall serve a copy of the order upon every person upon whom they would be required by subsection (1) of section eleven of the principal Act to serve a notice issued by them under that subsection which is very important? If so, I see no possible objection to this procedure.

Mr. Blenkinsop indicated assent.

Remaining Lords Amendments agreed to.

Colonel Dower

As that Business has been completed in about 30 seconds, may I say what a pity it is that we were not able to go to bed the other night by accepting all the Iron and Steel Bill Amendments.