§ 23. Mr. Neaveasked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he will seek to amend Schedule 5 of the Land Commission Act during the current Session of Parliament.
§ Mr. MacDermotNo, Sir. It was not found possible to include an amendment in this year's Finance Bill.
§ Mr. NeaveAs the Minister has already had to make two extra-statutory concessions to people of small means who have suffered hardship, why cannot this matter be rectified by legislation without delay?
§ Mr. MacDermotThe fact that the original concession has been extended, as is reported in this morning's Press, shows that there has been no disadvantage in the slight delay in legislation. No one suffers from it. The fact that the concession is in operation as an extra-statutory concession has been reported to the Public Accounts Committee.
§ Mr. RipponIs the Minister of State aware that there is great anxiety on this point and that we should like to have amending legislation as soon as possible, at any rate before we repeal the Act altogether? For the avoidance of all doubt, will he confirm that the concession announced yesterday contradicts and overrides his reply of 7th May, which indicated that the concession would not apply to non-residential land?
§ Mr. MacDermotI do not know about contradicting it. The original reply was correct. The original concession did not apply to non-residential land. The extension is that it now applies to non-residential land to the extent indicated.