HC Deb 30 June 1955 vol 543 cc641-2
Mr. Powell

I beg to move, in page 15, to leave out lines 26 to 30.

This is consequential upon the new subsection (2) added to Clause 2.

Amendment agreed to.

Motion made, and Question proposed, That the Schedule, as amended, be the First Schedule to the Bill.

Mr. Mitchison

I want to say only one word, and not in an argumentative way. Doubts have been expressed about the length of the time provided in this Schedule for the valuation officers. I understand that it is only intended to be as it is expressed to be, a maximum time, and that it is hoped and expected that it will not normally be required.

Mr. Sandys indicated assent.

Mr. Mitchison

I am glad to see assent from the Front Bench opposite.

Second Schedule agreed to.

Third Schedule.—(New PROVISIONS FOR RATING GAS BOARDS.)

Mr. Deedes

I beg to move, in page 20, line 6, to leave out paragraph 6.

This is designed to meet the fact that 210½ cubic feet of gas, which has generally been taken to be equal to one therm, has been found to be not a generally applicable standard as there are several undertakings to which it would not apply. This Amendment removes any complication that might arise.

Amendment agreed to.

Motion made, and Question proposed, That the Schedule, as amended, be the Third Schedule to the Bill.

Mr. Blackburn

I want to make a final protest about this formula, which is working unjustly with regard to some of the gas undertakings and is likely to work unjustly for still more undertakings in the near future. My hon. Friend the Member for East Ham, South (Mr. Oram) moved an Amendment which the Parliamentary Secretary accepted in principle, concerning a gas undertaking which was spread over two local authorities because the works were in one and the storage in the other.

The Amendment which I moved, and which the Parliamentary Secretary rejected, was exactly the same in principle. The only difference was that there was a distance between the storage place and the manufacturing place. I ask the Minister to look again at that Amendment to see if it could not be brought within the spirit of the Amendment of my hon. Friend the Member for East Ham, South.