§ [Queen's Recommendation signified]
§ Considered in Committee under Standing Order No. 88 {Money Committees).
§ [Sir SAMUEL STOREY in the Chair]
§
Motion made, and Question proposed,
That, for the purposes of any Act of the present Session to amend Part II of Schedule 2 to the Housing Act 1957 it is expedient to authorise the payment out of moneys provided by Parliament of any increase in the amounts so payable under any other Act which is attributable to amendments of the provisions of Part II of Schedule 2 to the Housing Act 1957 relating to private dwellings.—[Mr. MacColI.]
§ 2.25 a.m.
§ Mr. John Boyd-Carpenter (Kingston-upon Thames)The Joint Parliamentary Secretary, in his reply to the Second Reading debate, referred to the Money Resolution of a previous measure as "narrow and stupid". I rise to ask whether that definition is apt for this one. I appreciate that what will be in order in Committee is not for me or the Parliamentary Secretary but for you, Sir Samuel, but, none the less, I ask for an indication from the Government whether, in drafting this Money Resolution, it was intended to exclude the possibility of the Committee discussing Amendments to widen the scope of the benefits given under this Measure, in particular to deal with the limitation of the 15-years period which we discussed on Second Reading. In other words, is it the judgment of the Government that this Financial Resolution is drafted so as to exclude Amendments which would extend the scope of the Bill to cover all houses which were covered by the 1957 Measure and not merely those purchased between 1950 and 1955. My own reading of the Resolution, without professional advice, is that it is fairly wide and would not have that effect. Although my name has appeared on as many Money Resolutions as that of most hon. Members, I realise my limitations on this highly technical matter and I would appreciate an assurance from the Government.
The Joint Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Housing and Local Government (Mr. James MacColI)I will come to the rescue of the reputation of 899 the right hon. Gentleman. He was not Financial Secretary when that notorious Money Resolution, which was so shocking, was passed. It was the right hon. Member for Hampstead (Mr. Brooke).
I do not want to put ideas into the right hon. Gentleman's head, but I think that it would be surprising if he found that the sort of Amendments which he has in mind to widen the scope of the Bill were out of order.
§ Question put and agreed to.
§ Resolution to be reported.
§ Report to be received Tomorrow.
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- CONSOLIDATION, &c, BILLS 81 words