HC Deb 16 October 1952 vol 505 cc501-2
Mr. J. Stuart

I beg to move, in page 7, line 33, to leave out "dwelling," and to insert: house, dwelling, building or other land. This Amendment is moved because of an oversight. Previously this provision was in the Housing (Rural Workers) Act and the Housing (Agricultural Population) (Scotland) Act, 1938, which is reenacted in Sections 103 and 104 of the 1950 Act, but by an oversight it was omitted from Part II of the Housing (Scotland) Act, 1949. We have been advised that the words as they stand at present would not cover the case of an applicant who wished to make some improvements or additions to his dwelling, and it was therefore considered necessary to insert these words, to which I hope the Committee will be prepared to agree.

Amendment agreed to.

Mr. Woodburn

I beg to move, in page 8, line 18, to leave out subsection (5).

The purpose of this Amendment is to seek information. In this case the local authority is substituted for the Secretary of State, and the power is now to be exercised by the local authority instead of the Secretary of State. We should like to have some information as to why this substitution has taken place.

Commander Galbraith

The object here is to enable the local authority to approve of the reconstruction of a house instead of having to go to the Secretary of State for permission to do so. The right hon. Gentleman the Member for Greenock (Mr. McNeil) may remember that he gave an undertaking to the local authorities to that effect, and we are merely implementing the undertaking which he then gave.

Mr. Woodburn

In view of that explanation, I beg to ask leave to withdraw the Amendment.

Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.

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