HC Deb 22 July 1953 vol 518 cc519-20

(1) As respects any period for which separate advisory boards for Scotland and Wales are constituted under subsection (1) of section fifteen of the Ancient Monuments Consolidation and Amendment Act, 1913—

  1. (a) the advisory board first mentioned in that subsection shall be called "the Ancient Monuments Board for England," and the said separate boards shall be called respectively "the Ancient Monuments Board for Scotland" and "the Ancient Monuments Board for Wales"; and
  2. (b) references in this Act, and in any other enactment except the said subsection (1), to the Ancient Monuments Board shall be construed—
    1. (i) in relation to England, as references to the Ancient Monuments Board for England;
    2. (ii) in relation to Scotland, as references to the Ancient Monuments Board for Scotland;
    3. (iii) in relation to Wales, as references to the Ancient Monuments Board for Wales.

(2) The preceding subsection shall be deemed to have had effect as from the commencement of the said Act of 1913.—[Sir D. Eccles.]

Brought up, and read the First time.

Sir D. Eccles

I beg to move, "That the Clause be read a Second time."

The new Clause is needed because we think that for 39 years we may have been acting illegally in respect of the Ancient Monuments Boards. It seems that the 1913 Act only envisaged an Ancient Monuments Board for the whole country, whereas, in fact, we have been operating with three boards. We want to make it clear now beyond any doubt that we have statutory authority for three separate Ancient Monuments Boards.

Mr. George Thomas (Cardiff, West)

Apart from welcoming the fact that the Minister seeks to put Welsh interests on a proper basis, may I ask whether the new Clause means that we shall have greater Welsh representation in these matters, or that we are having the same representation as we previously had, but that it is now put within the law?

Sir D. Eccles

With your permission, Mr. Deputy-Speaker, and with the leave of the House, may I assure the hon. Member that I have every reason to believe that the present Ancient Monuments Board for Wales gives great satisfaction to the Welsh people, and I hope that it will continue to do so.

Question put, and agreed to.

Clause read a Second time, and added to the Bill.