HC Deb 21 February 1967 vol 741 cc1498-9

Amendment made: No. 14, in page 10, line 20, leave out from that 'to applies' in line 22 and insert: 'section 14(5), 19(3), 20(5) or 47(2) of the Housing (Scotland) Act 1966 (being provisions relating to the assessment of compensation for unfit and certain other houses)'.—[Dr. Dickson Mabon.]

Dr. Dickson Mabon

I beg to move Amendment No. 15, in page 11, line 43, to leave out 'an adequate' and to insert 'a fair'.

This Amendment meets a point raised in Standing Committee by my hon. Friend the Member for Dundee, West (Mr. Doig), who suggested that the word "adequate" in relation to the purchase price of property subject to an agreement to purchase by instalments might lead the sheriff to consider the price from the point of view of the seller only. The Government's intention in Clause 18(3)(b) has always been that the sheriff should have regard to whether the purchase price for the property was reasonable, bearing in mind all the circumstances of the case and not simply the return to the seller. The Amendment will remove any doubt by providing that the sheriff should consider how far the amount paid under an agreement to purchase by instalments represents a fair price for the purchase.

Mr. G. Campbell

I am sorry that the hon. Member for Dundee, West (Mr. Doig), for whom the Minister has made the Amendment, is not present to appreciate it. Having examined the Amendment, however, and having heard the reasons which the hon. Gentleman has given, we on this side are ready to accept it.

Amendment agreed to.

Further Amendments made: No. 16, in page 12, line 25, leave out '13 of the Housing (Scotland) Act 1950' and insert:

'18 of the Housing (Scotland) Act 1966'.

No. 17: In page 12, line 30, at end insert: ,and subject as aforesaid expressions used in this section and in the Housing (Scotland) Act 1966 have the same meanings in this section as in that Act.—[Dr. Dickson Mahon.]