HC Deb 17 January 1967 vol 739 cc324-5
Earl of Dalkeith

I beg to move Amendment No. 128, in page 57, line 8, after 'may' to insert: 'following consultation with all other parties directly concerned'. This straightforward Amendment is designed to facilitate the task of the rural development hoards so that they may operate in an area where they have good will and co-operation. I think that without these words they will run the risk of rubbing everybody up the wrong way. It would be very greatly to their benefit to have these words inserted.

I hope very much that the hon. Gentleman will give serious consideration to the point. Unless he accepts the words, the boards will find themselves being accused of riding roughshod over everybody, and I am sure that he would be the last person to wish them to put themselves in a position of being accused of that.

Mr. Hoy

I thought that it would be the purpose of the Amendment to ensure that a board consults all interested parties before it makes a scheme under the Clause. I can tell the noble Lord that it is quite unnecessary because the board already has this duty imposed upon it under the terms of subsection (6). This clearly stipulates that The Board shall endeavour to arrive at proposals for a scheme which all concerned will be willing to implement". Obviously, it cannot decide what kind of scheme the interested parties would be willing to implement unless it consults them. Some people, of course, may not he willing to enter into consultations, or the board may not know of their interest. To provide adequate safeguards for this situation, there is the procedure in subsection (2) for publishing a scheme and inviting submissions on it, to give them their opportunity to comment. If there are adverse submissions the Minister can order a public inquiry or the board can draw up a new scheme. Only if the Minister has given his blessing in principle can the board go ahead with the scheme, and it can then be implemented only if there are binding legal agreements covering all but a small proportion of the land.

This procedure offers the fullest opportunities for interested parties not merely to express their views but to have them put into action.

I hope that, with that very satisfactory explanation, the noble Lord will withdraw his Amendment.

Earl of Dalkeith

I beg to ask leave to withdraw the Amendment.

Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.