HC Deb 19 March 1959 vol 602 cc763-5

10.10 p.m.

The Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Housing and Local Government (Mr. J. R. Bevins)

I beg to move, That the Central Land Board (Dissolution and Transfer of Functions) Order, 1959, a draft of which was laid before this House on 5th March, be approved. The purpose of this draft Order is to wind up the Central Land Board and to transfer the uncompleted functions of the Board, in England and Wales to my right hon. Friend the Minister of Housing and Local Government, and in Scotland to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State. Perhaps I may be allowed to add that these functions include recoveries under Section 52 of the 1954 Town Planning Act.

10.12 p.m.

Sir Lynn Ungoed-Thomas (Leicestershire, North-East)

I hope that we may have a little more explanation from the hon. Gentleman than the very swift statement which he gave of what the Order does, which we already know. Can the Minister explain what functions of the Central Land Board are now outstanding, how far these functions have not been fulfilled and why the decision has been taken at this stage to transfer the functions to the Ministry?

We are concerned to know that this is the proper time at which to transfer these functions, and it can be the proper time only if the functions have been substantially fulfilled and what is left is something comparatively insignificant. May we have information from the Minister on these points?

10.13 p.m.

Mr. Bevins

I do not think there is a great deal that I need say in addition to what I have already said, although I will do so if the House so wishes. When the Central Land Board was in its heyday, it employed a staff of rather more than 1,000. The staff is now down to 35, and 28 of those officials will be taken over by the Ministry of Housing and Local Government, one will go to the Scottish office, and the balance will be absorbed either by the War Damage Commission or by other Departments. None of the officials of the Central Land Board will in any way suffer any diminution of salary or rights. Of the claims made against the Board under the 1947 Act a total of about 950,000 have been assessed and only 11 are outstanding at the present time. I think that I can safely say to the House that the functions of the Board are substantially disposed of.

10.14 p.m.

Mr. G. R. Mitchison (Kettering)

There is one question that I should like to ask about this Order. One sees from the Explanatory Note that one of the functions is the recovery of certain payments from the acquiring authorities. The hon. Gentleman is well aware that in respect of these payments there has been a dispute of considerable magnitude and there are still quite large sums outstanding.

This is a matter upon which the Government are seeking to introduce retrospective legislation under the Town and Country Planning Bill which we shall be considering next week. Is it now proposed that these disputes and the responsibility of collecting the money from the acquiring authorities should pass directly to the Minister who is bringing in this retrospective legislation?

Mr. Bevins

I doubt very much whether it would be in order, for me, on this Order which is limited to the transfer of the functions of the Central Land Board to the Ministries, to discuss the rights and wrongs of town and country planning legislation. I am sure that the hon. and learned Gentleman the Member for Kettering (Mr. Mitchison) would not wish me to do that. The answer to his question is in the affirmative. Outstanding recoveries will be made by my right hon. Friend who, of course, is taking over all the functions of the Board.

Question put and agreed to.

Resolved, That the Central Land Board (Dissolution and Transfer of Functions) Order, 1959, a draft of which was laid before this House on 5th March, be approved.

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