Schedule 3.—(PROCEDURE FOR MAKING HARBOUR REVISION AND EMPOWERMENT ORDERS.) (Hansard, 16 March 1964)

§ Vice-Admiral Hughes Hallett
I beg to move, in page 65, line 9, to leave out from "concerned" to "as" in line 10 and insert: and shall not make the order until such period for consideration of, and comment upon, the proposed modifications by the applicant and those other persons as he thinks reasonable has elapsed; nor shall he so make the order". Perhaps it would be convenient to discuss with this Amendment the Amendments in page 68, line 29, at end insert: and shall not make the order until such period for consideration of, and comment upon, the proposed modifications by those persons as he thinks reasonable has elapsed", in Clause 4, page 76, line 18, leave out from "concerned" to "subject" in line 19 and insert: and shall not confirm the scheme until such period for consideration of, and comment upon, the proposed modifications by they who submitted the scheme and those other persons as he thinks reasonable has elapsed; nor shall he confirm the scheme", and in Schedule 5, page 79, line 5, leave out from "concerned" to "as" in line 6 and insert: and shall not make the order until such period for consideration of, and comment upon, the proposed modifications by the applicant and those other persons as he thinks reasonable has elapsed; nor shall he, unless all persons interested consent, so make the order". Although the Amendments relate to different parts of the Bill, they are all on an identical point, and they are not drafting Amendments.

§ Mr. Speaker
If the House so pleases.

§ Vice-Admiral Hughes Hallett
The purpose of the Amendments is to provide that where the Minister concerned proposes when making a harbour revision or empowerment order, or when confirming a harbour reorganisation scheme, or when making a control of movement order, to do so with substantial modifications, he shall allow a reasonable period for the people concerned to consider and comment on the proposed modifications.
The Amendments were put down to meet an undertaking which I gave in Committee to examine the possibility of revising slightly the procedure for making orders in cases where the Minister proposes to make a major modification to proposals which had 1120 been advertised. They ensure that substantial modifications will not be made until all concerned have had an ample opportunity to make representations concerning them. I hope that hon. Members opposite who spoke on this subject in Committee will feel that the Amendments meet their point.

§ Mr. A. J. Irvine
We welcome these Amendments. We attached some importance to this point, although it is a procedural point, when we were considering the Schedule earlier. It seems to me that the Amendments meet the point admirably. I am glad that it was recognised to be of some importance.
The question of whether a reasonable period has elapsed possibly leaves discretion a little wide and uncertain. Perhaps the Parliamentary Secretary will indicate what is thought in this context to be a reasonable period. Subject to that perhaps minor inquiry, I wholeheartedly welcome these admirably expressed Amendments.