HC Deb 10 February 1954 vol 523 cc1255-7

7.0 p.m.

Mr. G. Brown

I beg to move, in page, line 1, after "notify," to insert: he occupier of the cottage and. Since we are progressing nearer and nearer to the Government majority, I hope that the Parliamentary Secretary will be inclined to look with more favour on this Amendment and also the following Amendment.

This Amendment has a very simple purpose. It applies only to the sitting occupiers of cottages which might be affected by the change when it comes to pass. We are anxious that they, as well as the officers of the council and the landlords, shall know that a change has been made. I cannot think that the Parliamentary Secretary would not want them to know as well, and I believe that this Amendment must commend itself to him.

Mr. Nugent

I am able to look with sympathy on the right hon. Member's contention, but I think that the Amendment which he has moved and the one to which he has referred go beyond that. I am, however, willing to give an undertaking that we will see whether we can give effect to his wish that the sitting occupiers should be informed of their position and of the fact that they have the tenancy despite the alteration which we are proposing. I will see whether we can introduce an Amendment in another place to give effect to the right hon. Member's wish.

Mr. Brown

The suggestion is that we should have the Amendment introduced in another place. Although this is a small matter, we do attach importance to it. I understand that the later stages of this Bill are to be taken shortly in the House of Commons and if the suggested Amendment were taken in the House it would not hold us up for a long time. I hope that the hon. Gentleman will say that he will introduce his Amendment during the next stage of the Bill in this House.

Mr. Nugent

The difficulty is that the Bill is unamended and, therefore, there will be no opportunity.

Mr. Brown

The hon. Gentleman could recommit for the purpose, or, alternatively, he could accept our Amendment with the assurance that if his advisers think that it goes too wide we shall be prepared to accept a Government Amendment in different words to put the matter right on the Report stage. I am assured, however, that the Amendment does not go as wide as the hon. Gentleman fears.

Mr. Nugent

I have already consulted my advisers on this and, while I am sympathetic to the right hon. Member's point, we cannot accept the Amendment in its present form. Therefore, the course which I have indicated seems the only way out of the dilemma. But I assure the right hon. Member that we shall stand by our undertaking.

Mr. Brown

I am very reluctant to withdraw the Amendment. We have played very well with the Government side and this is a matter on which we feel very deeply. We should like to have had a chance of looking at this matter again here in case the hon. Gentleman draws the wording too narrowly. We are not asking for very much. If the hon. Gentleman could accept this Amendment and bring the matter forward on Report stage, that would keep it within our influence. I hope the hon. Gentleman will be forthcoming to that extent.

Mr. Nugent

I will see if we can amend the Bill for the Report stage, if that is in order, so as to give effect to the intention of the Amendment moved by the right hon. Member. But I am afraid that we cannot accept the words as they are put down in this Amendment. I am advised that if this can be done on Report stage we could so amend the wording.

The Chairman

There will not be a Report stage unless the Bill is amended.

Mr. R. T. Paget (Northampton)

If the hon. Gentleman accepted this Amendment now he would be doing so on the understanding that it would not be this Amendment which would eventually go into the Bill but that he was accepting it so that there should be a Report stage. On that Report stage the hon. Gentleman could produce his Amendment. Surely that is the convenient way of doing what we all desire.

Mr. Brown

May I make another suggestion? If the hon. Gentleman cannot meet us, perhaps I might move to report Progress in order that the Committee stage of this Bill would not be finished tonight. The hon. Gentleman would then have plenty of time to deal with the matter here. That seems a better way of doing it than to leave the Bill in its unfinished form.

Mr. Nugent

Ihave been trying to meet the convenience of hon. Members just as the right hon. Member has been trying. I know that there is an important debate to follow this Committee stage. That is why I have not discussed the content of the Amendment. I would be reluctant to take up time on this narrow Amendment, on which we agree in principle. We are willing to look at it with sympathy to the intention, but my advisers advise me quite definitely that this Amendment goes far beyond what the right hon. Member wants. Therefore, we cannot accept it. I do ask that the right hon. Gentleman should not report Progress, but that he should withdraw his Amendment on the undertaking that we shall put in words for consideration in another place, words which will meet his request.

Mr. Brown

With very great reluctance, and only because another subject is about to come before the House, as a result of an understanding between the usual channels, I will withdraw the Amendment on the understanding given by the Parliamentary Secretary. I am bound to say, however, that, having been as facilitating as we have since the Committee stage began, I am very unhappy that we should be treated in this way now. I beg to ask leave to withdraw the Amendment.

Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.

Clause ordered to stand part of the Bill.

Clause 3 ordered to stand part of the Bill.

Bill reported, without Amendment; to be read the Third time Tomorrow.