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Lords Amendment No. 2: In page 4, line 43, leave out from "the" to "he" in line 1 on page 5 and insert:
purposes of paragraphs (a) to (c) of subsection (1) above have been adequately achieved by the steps take by the authority in compliance with that subsection".
§ The Minister of Housing and Local Government (Mr. Anthony Greenwood)I beg to move, That this House doth agree with the Lords in the said Amendment.
§ Mr. SpeakerIt would be convenient if we also take Lords Amendments Nos. 3, 5 and 6.
§ Mr. GreenwoodThese Amendments relate to the Minister's powers at the preparatory stage in the making of structure and local plans. Similar obligations are placed upon the local planning authority with regard to both kinds of plan, and are contained in Clauses 3(1) and 7(1) respectively. These require the authority to take such steps as will, in 1409 its opinion, secure adequate publicity for the matters it proposes to include in its plans, and to give opportunity to make representations about them. The authority then has to consider any representations made.
It was argued in another place that the power of the Minister to return a structure plan or to direct the authority not to proceed with the adoption of a local plan, if he is not satisfied that the authority:
… have adequately complied with subsection (1)".is non-effective. Amendments 2 and 5 meet this point. Their effect is to ensure that the Minister is able to control the process of approval or adoption of a plan where he is not satisfied that the local planning authority has taken adequate steps. The Minister's consideration will now be directed to the purposes set out in paragraphs (a) and (c) of the subsections. It is from his satisfaction or otherwise with the results of the steps taken, rather than from a consideration of the steps themselves, that his powers to require further action will flow. Amendments 3 and 6 are consequential upon Amendments 2 and 5.
§ Mr. Graham Page (Crosby)We are grateful for this Amendment. The intention of the machinery in Part I, as I understand it, is to ensure that there is public participation in this. It is right that the Minister should supervise this operation and the new machinery, just to see that it is serving its purpose. We join with the Government in welcoming this Amendment.
§ Question put and agreed to.
§ Subsequent Lords Amendment agreed to.