HC Deb 08 March 1967 vol 742 cc1699-701
Mr. Channon

I beg to move Amendment No. 100, in page 25, line 25, at the end to insert: Provided that the Minister shall publish within one month of the Royal Assent to this Act any such scheme. This is the administrative Clause under which the Minister will make schemes and/or directions for carrying out the mortgage option scheme under Clause 23. This is a probing Amendment, because it may be that the Government are not prepared to come forward with a scheme as early as I would hope.

It has been represented to me by a number of people who will be involved that they are most anxious to have information at the earliest possible date as to the detailed administrative scheme the Government propose. I see no reason —unless some breach of privilege might be involved—why they should not have this information at least on an informal basis before Royal Assent even if it cannot be done formally before then.

I hope that the Minister will consider the administrative convenience of those who will have to work the scheme and publish the details at the earliest possible date. If he cannot agree to do so within a month of the Royal Assent, perhaps we can be told tonight roughly what the timing is expected to be. When will he be able to let the qualifying lenders know the details necessary to bring the mortgage option scheme into operation?

Mr. MacColl

My right hon. Friend has every incentive to press ahead and get the scheme out as quickly as possible and if he could do it within a month he would want to do so. There is no reason for holding back. But I do not think it likely that it can be done in so short a time as a month after Royal Assent.

This will involve consultation with many interests—including the Building Societies Association, the local authority associations, the Life Offices Association, the Scottish Life Offices Association, the Friendly Societies' Liaison Committee, the G.L.C., and the Commission for the New Towns. All these must be consulted to get their agreement. To try and carry out the scheme without getting their active agreement would not be right. We do not want them to feel that they are having a scheme swung on them. We must get their active co-operation and must be careful to have responsible consultations.

It would not be easy to agree to a time limit of the sort proposed in the Amendment. If we were to exceed the limit we might not be able to bring out a scheme at all. But, certainly, my right hon. Friend is anxious to get this going as soon as possible. This includes the publicity that will bring the scheme to the attention of those hoping to opt. We shall push on as quickly as possible.

Mr. Channon

I appreciate that the hon. Gentleman cannot accept the Amendment but can he not give some indication of the time this is expected to take? Many people are anxious to know. He need not definitely commit himself to a definite time. The Bill could have its Second Reading in the Lords before Easter and could presumably be law by Whitsun. Within a month of Royal Assent would take us to the middle of June. That is 3½ months away. It is not unreasonable to expect the Government to be able to have a scheme ready by then. If they cannot do that when do they expect that they will be able to authoritative advice to the people who will have to work this scheme? These people are anxious to have some information if it is possible to give some details.

Mr. MacColl

I am happy that the hon. Member is more bullish in this matter than his hon. Friend the Member for Moray and Nairn (Mr. G. Campbell). When we started our proceedings it was thought that July would be the likely date for the Royal Assent. This is not a matter entirely within our control here. The sooner that we can get the Royal Assent the better, but we will not wait for it and we will get on with our discussions. It depends on the reactions we get from the associations. If we find that everything goes smoothly it should not be a difficult exercise, but if we come across any snags we may have to take some time. The difficulty is that there are a number of associations which have to be consulted. We are certainly thinking of this as something which will happen within a few weeks.

Mr. Channon

The last remarks of the Parliamentary Secretary are the most important. He said that he hoped that it would happen in a few weeks. That is a little more precise than he has been.

Mr. MacColl

I sneaked that out I am now going to be held to having given an undertaking which is not an undertaking. We want to get on as quickly as we can.

Mr. Channon

I am grateful for the information that the Parliamentary Secretary has given and I beg to ask leave to withdraw the Amendment.

Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.