HC Deb 25 October 1967 vol 751 cc1657-8

Lords Amendment No. 28: In page 45, line 28, after "authority" insert "or an Electricity Board".

Dr. Mabon

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

With this Amendment, Mr. Speaker, I suggest that we take also Lords Amendments Nos. 30, 31, 32, 42 and 45.

Mr. Speaker

If the House has no objection, so be it.

Dr. Mabon

These Amendments are concerned with empowering the two electricity boards in Scotland to provide recreational facilities. We agreed in Committee that that would be desirable. The boards own large tracts of land and water. Both they and the Government feel it right that they should have clear powers to make the most of the recreational potential of their property.

The Amendments put the boards in the same position as Clauses 63, 64 and 67, put local water authorities: that is, they can provide facilities and charge for them or let them, they can provide facilities jointly with other persons and receive contributions from other persons or bodies towards their cost and they can make byelaws or appoint wardens. Hitherto, the North Board, by virtue of its "social clause", has been better able to provide recreational facilities for the public than has the South Board. The Amendments ensure that both boards will have these powers.

Question put and agreed to.

Subsequent Lords Amendments agreed to.