HC Deb 24 July 1969 vol 787 cc2198-9

Lords Amendment No. 5: In page 19, line 30, leave out subsection (1) and insert: (1) Where any land for the time being vested in a local authority for the purposes of this Part of this Act— (a) consists of or forms part of an open space; or (b) has been compulsorily acquired under this Part of this Act; the local authority shall not dispose of it except with the consent of the Minister.

Mr. MacColl

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

The Amendment makes clear that an authority's discretion to dispose of land is limited in the sense that it has to go to the Minister for approval. There is no point, therefore, in laying down limits on such discretion at an earlier point.

Question put and agreed to.

Lords Amendment No. 6: In page 19, line 42, after "or" insert: subject to subsection (4) of this section".

Mr. MacColl

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

Mr. Speaker

I suggest that we take at the same time, Lords Amendment No. 7, in page 20, line 14, at end insert: and the consent of the Minister under subsection (2) of this section shall not be required to any letting for a term not exceeding seven years". Lest the information has not reached the Opposition, I take this opportunity to announce that I have selected their two Amendments, that is to say, to the Lords Amendments Nos. 13 and 16.

Mr. MacColl

These two Lords Amendments, Nos. 6 and 7, relax slightly the conditions governing a local authority's letting of land. They deal mainly with short lettings for periods not exceeding seven years, in which cases it may not be so easy to define what is meant by the best rent obtainable. The Amendments will make it easier to deal with shorter periods in respect of land.

Question put and agreed to.

Subsequent Lords Amendment agreed to.

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