HC Deb 29 April 1958 vol 587 cc331-2

Lords Amendment: In page 2, line 34, to leave out subsection (6).

10.17 p.m.

The Joint Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Transport and Civil Aviation (Mr. Airey Neave)

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

If it be convenient, I hope that we may also discuss the Amendment in page 2, line 48, at the end insert a new Clause A.

Mr. Deputy-Speaker (Sir Charles MacAndrew)

Yes.

Mr. Neave

These are purely drafting Amendments. Hon. Members will recollect that in another place Lord Silkin moved that the amenity provisions in Clause 1 (6) should be put into a separate Clause. The Government accepted that view and that is the reason for the Amendments.

Mr. Ness Edwards (Caerphilly)

On this side of the House, we have no objection to this new formulation. I hope it will carry greater weight in the minds of authorities when administering the Act. We support the Amendments.

Question put and agreed to.

Lords Amendment: In line 46, after "1954", to insert: and to be statutory undertakers within the meaning of the Town and Country Planning Act, 1947, by virtue of carrying on a harbour undertaking;

Mr. Neave

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

This, again, is a drafting Amendment. It is designed to remove any doubt which might otherwise have existed as to whether the new Conservancy was a statutory undertaking for the purposes of the Town and Country Planning Act, 1947. It was thought that there might be some doubt in that respect. In this Amendment, the Conservancy is put in the same position as other harbour authorities and will be able to carry out what is called permitted development. I mentioned this matter on Second Reading. There are certain shipping purposes and the use of land for spreading of dredgings, and so on, which the Conservancy might wish to carry out.

Question put and agreed to.

Further Lords Amendment agreed to: In line 48, at end insert new Clause A (Protection of amenities): In formulating or considering any proposals relating to their functions under this Act, the Board shall have regard to the desirability—

  1. (a) of preserving natural beauty;
  2. (b) of conserving flora, fauna and geological or physiographical features of special interest; and
  3. (c) of ensuring an easy passage at all times through the waters of the haven for ascending salmon and sea-trout."—[Mr. Neave.]