HC Deb 09 April 1964 vol 692 cc1374-6
Sir K. Joseph

I beg to move, in page 41, line 35 after "hot", to insert "and cold".

There is a very large number of Amendments that go together with this.

These all follow from that discovery by the hon. Gentleman the Member for Hayes and Harlington (Mr. Skeffington) that there is no provision explicitly in the present Housing Acts for improvement to include cold as well as hot water. The Government have agreed to amend the Housing Acts appropriately and these Amendments, which are numerous, are dotted in all parts of the Bill. All they do is, wherever hot water supply is involved, is to write in cold as well as hot water. It has no implication for grants and its legalises what has been going on for a very long time.

Mr. MacColl:

When were were discussing extending the provision for having baths, I suggested that my hon. Friend the Member for Southall (Mr. Pargiter) ought to celebrate by having the first bath under the new arrangement. Perhaps it would be a little cruel to suggest that my hon. Friend the hon. Member for Hayes and Harlington (Mr. Skeffington) should have the first cold bath. This is a matter he picked up and pressed very hard. We are very pleased to see it has been put in the Bill. We are glad to accept all the Amendments dealing with it throughout.

Mr. Millan

As well as hot and cold, we do have some standardisation of the description of standard amenities, which is the point I raised in Committee. I am glad to see that has been taken care of. I take it our definition now stands all the way through.

Sir K. Joseph

I did not want to take away the credit that hon. Member deserves. He is quite right; we have met his point by standardising the definition.

Amendment agreed to.

Further Amendments made: In page 41, line 35, leave out from "shower" to end of line 36 and insert: which, if reasonably practicable, is to be in a bathroom; (cc) a hot and cold water supply at a wash-hand basin; (ccc) a hot and cold water supply at a sink.".

In line 42, after "hot", insert "and cold".

In page 42, line 13, after "amenities", insert: listed in paragraph (ccc), (d) and (e) of subsection (1) of this section.

In line 16, leave out "following standard amenities" and insert: said standard amenities listed in paragraphs (ccc), (d) and (e) of subsection (1) of this section".

In line 17, leave out from "have" to end of line 20.—[Sir K. Joseph.]