Clause 17.—(INTERPRETATION.) (Hansard, 26 June 1964)

§ Mr. Hendry
I beg to move, That the Bill be now read the Third time.
The Bill, which is a very lengthy one, contains a number of very miscellaneous provisions giving new powers to local authorities, particularly to smaller local authorities. It makes some very useful provisions for the finance of local authorities, and generally speaking meets a number of wishes expressed by local authorities over recent years.
The Bill caused a great deal of work in the Scottish Standing Committee. The Committee met on no fewer than thirteen occasions. As a result of the Committee's deliberations, the Bill is now in a vastly different form from that in which it last left the House. It has, I believe, been greatly improved by the labours of hon. Members on both sides, to whom I owe a debt of gratitude.
I should like to express my gratitude to the Chairman of the Committee, who was very patient and tolerant and helped us a great deal with his wisdom. I should also like to express my gratitude to the officials, who helped us during the Committee stage. I have no hesitation in saying that the Bill will be greatly welcomed by local authorities in Scotland, of whatever nature, and I commend it to the House.

§ Miss Harvie Anderson (Renfrew, East)
It may seem strange that I should wish to speak at this stage and, in particular, to congratulate my hon. Friend 834 the Member for Aberdeenshire, West (Mr. Hendry) for the extensive amount of hard work he has put in on this Measure. It is equally true that I could scarcely be said to have been one of my hon. Friend's main supporters, for I have throughout been a strong critic of the Bill.
The fact that certain of my fears have been allayed during the lengthy and prolonged discussions in Committee is evidence that I should wish to comment on it now and, particularly, to remark on the first part of the Bill, which seeks to do great good. The provisions in Part I will undoubtedly bring great satisfaction to many people in Scotland, especially those who do so much hard and valuable work on district councils. It will also increase the powers available to these councils, which is something which will be universally welcomed and which, I am sure, the district councils will use with both discretion and an awareness of the need to advance their areas. This applies particularly to Clauses 2 and 3.
It would be unwise of me to go further in my comment and to discuss the financial provisions of the Bill, because it is here that I have had the greatest difference of opinion with my hon. Friend. Nevertheless, considering the scattered and sparcely populated areas of Scotland, I am sure that the Bill will make a considerable contribution. As the Measure makes clear, we are increasingly dependent on trade brought by tourists. The Bill is designed to make amenities more attractive to them and I know that the enthusiasm of councils in wishing to make these improvements will be aided by the Bill and I also know that they will not lose time in implementing its provisions.
If I have certain reservations about the second and third parts of the Measure, and the financial provisions, I am sure that the Bill goes some way towards providing us with the sort of legislation which is increasingly necessary nowadays; to provide local authorities, district councils in particular, with power to improve the amenities of the countryside.

§ The Under-Secretary of State for Scotland (Mr. Gordon Campbell)
Before we complete our discussion of the Bill I, too, would like to congratulate my hon. Friend the Member for Aberdeenshire, West (Mr. Hendry) on having introduced 835 it and for having so ably piloted it through the House.
As has been said, the Bill contains some useful provisions, which will be generally welcomed by local authorities in Scotland. My hon. Friend has taken immense trouble to meet many of the points made in Committee and I am sure that all hon. Members who represent Scottish constituencies are grateful to him for his labours.