HC Deb 29 July 1952 vol 504 cc1406-7

Lords Amendment: In page 5, line 34, at end, insert: A.—The power of a local authority to acquire land under Part V of the Housing Act, 1936, shall include power to acquire land (including houses or other buildings) proposed to be used for any purpose authorised by section eighty of that Act or section seven of the Housing Act, 1949 (which confer additional powers in connection with the provision of housing accommodation), whether or not that land forms part of a site for the erection of houses.

Mr. H. Macmillan

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

This Clause is really of rather a technical character, but it has a useful purpose. Since the consolidation of part of the housing code by the Housing Act, 1936, there have been some legal doubts whether a local authority has power under these Acts to acquire land for such uses as recreation grounds or amenities of that kind in connection with existing housing estates. Successive Ministers have been advised by their local authorities that it was doubtful whether they could issue orders for acquiring land for existing estates, although it is clear that they have the power to acquire such land in connection with new estates.

That led to the rather absurd position that the older estates could never be provided with these amenities under these powers, whereas new estates could be.

The only purpose of this Clause is to make it quite clear that local authorities, with the approval of the Minister, have power to acquire land to improve old estates as well as land for the benefit of new estates.

Question put, and agreed to.

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