HC Deb 30 June 1965 vol 715 cc646-7
The Under-Secretary of State for Scotland (Dr. J. Dickson Mabon)

I beg to move Amendment No. 14, in page 5, line 11, after "weeks" to insert: , or, in the case of a dwelling-house in Scotland, six months,". This is one of the Amendments which the Government have tabled in response to representations by the official Opposition in Committee. It follows an undertaking which I gave to the hon. Member for Aberdeenshire, West (Mr. Hendry)—I am sorry that the hon. Gentleman is not here at the moment—that Amendments would be made to the Bill to ensure that it fitted in with the Scottish rating and valuation timetable. The Amendment ensures that, providing that the landlord takes prompt action when he receives his rate demand, he can recover an amount from the tenant corresponding to the increase in rates for the preceding part of the rating year—that is, from May to November.

We discussed this fully in Committee, and I hope that the House will agree to the Amendment.

Mr. Boyd-Carpenter

As the Under-Secretary has pointed out, my hon. Friend the Member for Aberdeenshire, West (Mr. Hendry) is for the moment out of the Chamber. I would certainly not wish to speak on his behalf on matters of Scottish law. My recollection coincides with that of the Under-Secretary that the Amendment deals with the point which my hon. Friend raised. Perhaps, therefore, the Under-Secretary will not think me churlish if I offer, on behalf of my hon. Friend, a provisional word of thanks.

Amendment agreed to.