HC Deb 06 March 1963 vol 673 cc421-2

(1) For the purpose of securing that the duties under this Act of local authorities and the London County Council with respect to the enforcement of the foregoing provisions of this Act and regulation thereunder (except sections 25 to 33 and section (Provision of means of escape in case of fire) and regulations under any of them) are discharged in uniform manner, the Minister—

  1. (a) may make regulations with respect to the manner of the discharge of those duties and of the exercise of the powers conferred by this Act on inspectors appointed by local authorities and the London County Council respectively;
  2. (b) may, with the approval of the Treasury as to numbers and salaries, appoint officers to be charged with the duty of securing that he is at all material times in possession of all information requisite to enable him to determine whether those duties are being so discharged and of advising local authorities and the London County Council on matters concerning the discharge by them of those duties.

(2) An officer appointed under this section may inquire into the manner in which the duties aforesaid are for the time being discharged by a local authority or the London County Council and, for that purpose, may—

  1. (a) examine any records kept in connection with the discharge of those duties by the authority or Council;
  2. (b) require the authority or Council or an inspector appointed by them in pursuance of this Act to give such assistance and information as the officer may reasonably specify; and
  3. (c) make inquiries of any person who appears to the officer likely to be able to give him information with respect to the manner in which the duties aforesaid are for the time being discharged by the authority or Council.

(3) The results of an inquiry under the last foregoing subsection shall, if the Minister so directs, be reported to him in writing by the officer by whom it was carried out; and where that is done the Minister shall send a copy of the report to the local authority in question (or to the London County Council, in a case where the subject of the inquiry was the manner in which their duties were for the time being discharged) and may, if he thinks fit, publish it in whole or in part.

(4) The like powers as, by section 45 of this Act are conferred on an inspector within the meaning of that section shall be exercisable by an officer appointed under this section; and subsection (2) of that section shall, with requisite modifications, apply accordingly.

(5) An officer appointed under this section shall, if so required when visiting any premises in exercise of powers conferred by the foregoing subsections, produce to the occupier of the premises some duly authenticated docu- ment showing that he is so appointed.—[Mr. Hare.]

Brought up, read the First and Second time, and added to the Bill.

Bill reported, with Amendments; as amended (in the Standing Committee and on recommittal), considered.