HC Deb 15 May 1958 vol 588 cc623-4

4.0 p.m.

Mr. J. N. Browne

I beg to move, in page 11, line 7, to leave out "not exceeding four".

In the Standing Committee many hon. Members were concerned about possible hardship to local authorities in the transition from percentage grants to general grants. That position was summed up by the hon. Member for Edinburgh, East (Mr. Willis), in spite of his apparent lack of understanding of what we have just been discussing, in a very moderate speech.

Mr. Willis

All my speeches are moderate.

Mr. Browne

He said: If the hon. Member says, 'If we find that there are difficulties, we can extend the time by introducing fresh legislation,' why should he, if that is in the Government's mind, have tied himself down so rigidly in the Clause, where it says: 'such subsequent years, not exceeding four ….' That is very definite. More flexibility ought to have been provided in the Bill. To which I replied: … our mind as to what the right period should be is as open as the minds of hon. Members, and … I am prepared to look at the matter again before Report in the light of the speeches which have been made."—[OFFICIAL REPORT, Scottish Standing Committee, 24th April, 1958; c. 667–8.] When the Bill has been amended, we will be able to spread the time of the transitional periods to suit the circumstances of the time, and I am sure that the Amendment will be welcomed.

Mr. Willis

I am bound to express my satisfaction that at least occasionally a glimpse of understanding seems to penetrate the mind of the Joint Under-Secretary. I am glad that one of the occasions on which there has been such a glimpse of understanding has been in respect of an Amendment which we moved in the Standing Committee. I thank him for accepting it. I am sure that this is an improvement to the Bill.

Amendment agreed to.

Clause, as amended, ordered to stand part of the Bill.