HC Deb 18 May 1950 vol 475 cc1464-5
Viscount Hinchingbrooke

I beg to move, in page 10, line 20, to leave out "by a local authority."

I propose also, with your permission, Major Milner, to move a consequential manuscript Amendment, in line 32, to leave out subsection (3).

The Chairman (Major Milner)

I propose to accept the consequential manuscript Amendment.

Viscount Hinchingbrooke

The object of this Amendment is to make sure that the Bill covers grids which have already been provided on private estates and private land, or indeed anywhere and by whatever local authority or person. To leave the words "local authority" in the Clause would mean that the various benefits and provisions of this Bill would apply only to acts done by local authorities in the past. The major work, so far, in connection with cattle-grids has been done by commoners and land owners up and down the country. Many hundreds of cattle-grids are already in existence which will be taken over and legalised and provided for by the Minister when this Bill goes through.

7.0 p.m.

Therefore, had it not been for private enterprise in the past there would have been no Bill of this kind at present. That only shows that all the wisdom does not lie in the heads of Socialist Ministers opposite. If the right hon. Gentleman is disposed, as I think he is, to accept this Amendment, and the deletion of the subsection, he is joining in a nice and friendly piece of retroactive legislation and I would give a warm welcome to that acceptance. He would also be doing a thing which most right hon. Gentlemen on that side of the Committee find it very hard to do, and that is patting wicked Tory landowners on the back.

Mr. Barnes

I hardly thought that the little arrangement made between myself and the noble Lord would warrant the description applied to it by him in moving this Amendment. I found I was able to accept his first Amendment provided he completed the process by moving the subsequent Amendment, which would enable me to withdraw an Amendment down in my name. To me it was quite a simple piece of drafting and I hardly imagined it would thrill the noble Lord to the extent he has indicated.

Amendment agreed to.

Further Amendment made: In page 10, line 32, leave out subsection (3).— [Viscount Hinchingbrooke.]

The Chairman

I gather that the Minister does not intend to move the Amendment in page 10, line 33, after "England" to insert, "and Wales."

Clause, as amended, ordered to stand part of the Bill.