HC Deb 26 July 1955 vol 544 c1134

Lords Amendment: In page 13, line 33, leave out from "by" to end of line 34 and insert: an authority having, within the meaning of the Local Loans Act, 1875, power to levy a rate.

Mr. Deedes

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

This Amendment requires some explanation. It substitutes a new definition of local authority for the one in the proviso to Clause 8 (1). The effect of this substitution is to extend the class of local authorities excluded from the benefit of the reliefs given by the Clause so as to embrace parish councils and joint education authorities—they are the most important bodies envisaged—and all other local authorities in the ordinary meaning of the term. That is the whole point of the Amendment, and I hope that it will be accepted.

Mr. G. R. Mitchison (Kettering)

That seems acceptable to right hon. and hon. Gentlemen on this side of the House, and to myself. May I congratulate the Parliamentary Secretary on going back for 73 years, to a Statute which appears to have no connection whatever with this Bill, to include parish councils, joint education authorities and, possibly, some other ratemaking odds and ends?

Lieut.-Colonel Marcus Lipton (Brixton)

As one of the very few parish councillors who is also a Member of the House, may I express my gratitude to the Parliamentary Secretary for putting parish councils on the map to this extent?

Question put and agreed to.—[Special Entry.]