HC Deb 25 October 1967 vol 751 cc1655-6

Lords Amendment No. 21: In page 33, line 35, at end insert: for the provision, maintenance and enjoyment of the route, and without prejudice to that generality".

Dr. Mabon

I beg to move, That this House doth agree with the Lords in the said Amendment.

I think, Mr. Speaker, that with this Amendment we could take Amendments Nos. 22, 23 and 24.

Mr. Speaker

So be it.

Dr. Mabon

These Amendments—in particular that which contains the words "without prejudice to that generality" ensure that the Commission will not be prevented, in preparing a report of a long-distance route, from making proposals about any facilities which it considers should appropriately be provided. We touched upon this point in Committee, and these Amendments represent an improvement.

Mr. Stodart

I should like to ask one question. Can the Minister explain the omission of lines 14 to 20? Their deletion seems to remove the responsibility which rests upon a local authority to say something about the expenditure incurred on various works.

Dr. Mabon

This is relative to what the Commission is trying to do in developing these matters. We are trying to ensure that the Commission is not prevented, by the existence of this Clause in its previous form, from preparing a report on a long-distance route. People could argue that the consequences of preparing reports and so on would mean that certain obligations are being incurred by certain authorities. We are trying to make sure that the Commission can do this without involving itself in all these difficulties.

The four Amendments hang together, as was clearly made out in another place. If the hon. Member will search the records—I realise that it is only now becoming available; this illustrates our difficulties—he will see that the point is readily taken care of. If I have not explained the situation properly I will write to the hon. Member and make it clear.

Question put and agreed to.

Subsequent Lords Amendments agreed to.