HC Deb 01 April 1953 vol 513 cc1297-8

Considered in Committee under Standing Order No. 84 (Money Committees). [Queen's Recommendation signified.]

[Mr. HOPKIN MORRIS in the Chair]

Motion made, and Question proposed, That, for the purposes of any Act of the present Session to make provision for work for defence against sea water in localities affected by the flood of January, 1953, and to provide for the rehabilitation of agricultural land flooded with salt water, it is expedient to authorise the payment out of moneys provided by Parliament of:—

  1. (a) grants to river boards in respect of expenditure incurred by them in, or in connection with or in consequence of, the exercise of powers conferred on them by or under the said Act;
  2. (b) expenditure authorised by the said Act in making acreage payments for the purpose of promoting the rehabilitation of agricultural land that has been flooded with salt water;
  3. (c) any increase attributable to provisions of the said Act in the sums payable out of moneys provided by Parliament under Part I of the local Government Act, 1948, or under section forty-nine of the Town and Country Planning Act, 1947, or in the sums payable out of the Road Fund.—[Sir T. Dugdale.]

8.2 p.m.

Mr. G. Brown

I should like to be quite sure that this Financial Resolution is drawn in such a way that we can raise the question of how long the 100 per cent. grant should apply and whether or not it should be coterminous with the period of the Bill. There is nothing in the Resolution to indicate it, and we want to be sure that we shall be free to raise such points in the Committee.

Sir T. Dugdale

It is certainly my intention that that should be in order, but I cannot give an absolute assurance. It is the first time that the right hon. Gentleman has referred to this point. At first glance, and from an amateur point of view, I cannot see why it should not be raised. Does the right hon. Gentleman think, having read through the Financial Resolution, that there is anything?

Mr. Brown

I am willing to go on talking for a bit to give the right hon. Gentleman time to turn from an amateur into a professional. My guess is that the Financial Resolution is all right, but I fear what may happen when we get into Committee upstairs. Perhaps the right hon. Gentleman now has become a professional and can clear up the point.

Sir T. Dugdale

I thank the right hon. Gentleman for giving me the opportunity to say that I understand that everything is quite in order.

Question put, and agreed to.

Resolution to be reported Tomorrow.