HC Deb 14 April 1967 vol 744 cc1515-6

Sections 1 and 2 of the Local Authorities (Historic Buildings) Act 1962 (which make provision for contributions by local authorities in England and Wales towards the repair and maintenance of buildings of historic or architectural interest) shall apply to Scotland subject to the following modifications—

  1. (a) in subsection (1) of section 1, for the reference to England or Wales, section 32 of the Planning Act and the Minister of Housing and Local Government, there shall be substituted respectively a reference to Scotland, section 28 of the Scottish Planning Act and the Secretary of State;
  2. (b) in subsection (4) of section 1, for the definition of 'local authority' there shall be substituted the following definitions:—
    • 'local authority' means a local planning authority or a county council or the town council of a burgh;
    • 'local planning authority' has the same meaning as that expression has for the purposes of the Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1947;
  3. (c) in subsection (1) of section 2, for the reference to exchange there shall be substituted a reference to excambion, and the words in any court of competent jurisdiction' shall be omitted.—[Dr. Dickson Mabon.]

Brought up, and read the First time.

The Minister of State, Scottish Office (Dr. J. Dickson Mabon)

I beg to move, That the Clause be now read a Second time.

With respect, Mr. Speaker, I suggest that Amendments Nos. 54 and 55, which are consequential, may be taken at the same time.

Mr. Speaker

Very well.

Dr. Mabon

We have taken the opportunity of the Amendment to the Money Resolution agreed last night, and which accommodates new Clause No. 7, to seek to apply Sections 1 and 2 of the Local Authorities (Historic Buildings) Act, 1962, to Scotland. With the necessary adaptations this will allow local authorities in Scotland to make grants or loans towards the maintenance or repair of historic buildings. Scottish local authorities will thus be put in the same position as those of England and Wales.

To those of my hon. Friends who know the Act intimately and want it to apply to Scotland, I must point out that we shall not have to apply Sections 3 and 4 of the Act. There is a blanket provision in Section 339 of the Local Government (Scotland) Act, 1947, under which local authorities in Scotland, with the Secretary of State's approval, could have made grants or loans, but it is felt by the Government that the provision of specific power is more satisfactory and more likely to be noticed and acted upon.

Question put and agreed to.

Clause read a Second time and added to the Bill.