HC Deb 09 May 1961 vol 640 c287

Motion made, and Question proposed, That the Clause stand part of the Bill.

Mr. Soames

I told hon. Members earlier that if an Amendment of note and importance to a Clause had been made by the Select Committee I would draw attention to it. Under this Clause, there is an Amendment to subsection (1) which requires the Authority to reduce the area of land in the Covent Garden area used for marketing purposes to not more than ten acres and to do the job within seven years. We regard this as reasonable and we see no reason why the target should not be achieved. The Authority has the right to come to the Minister so that the Minister may lay an order if seven years did not prove enough, but we have no reason to suppose that either of these figures will not be sufficient.

Mr. Mellish

I take it that the 30 acres which the market is sited on now will be reduced to ten and that the remaining 20 acres will be available for other purposes?

Mr. Soames

Yes. I should not like to be specific as to how many acres will be freed, but the market will be now concentrated into ten acres.

Question put and agreed to.

Clause ordered to stand part of the Bill.