TRANSITIONAL PROVISIONS AND SAVINGS (Hansard, 11 June 1969)

§ Mr. Wylie
I beg to move Amendment No. 35, in page 122, line 38, leave out paragraph 1.
Under the provisions of this paragraph, it would appear as though, pending the application of the new legislation, there will be a freeze on planning proposals. The paragraph says: Until the repeal of Part II of the Act of 1947 as respects any area (whether the whole or part of the district of a local planning authority), proposals for any alterations or additions to a development plan in force in the area shall not without the approval of the Secretary of State be submitted to him under section 4 of that Act. It is difficult to understand why it is proposed to do that. We do not know when the new legislation will come into force, and this provision means that it will not be possible for alterations or additions to be submitted to the Secretary of State without his prior approval. I do not understand the purpose behind it.

§ Dr. Dickson Mabon
I am glad that we are discussing the Amendment, because our attention has been drawn to 1626 some defects which we shall come to when we deal with the next group of Amendments.
The hon. and learned Gentleman raises a sound question when he asks why we have the paragraph there when the old system and the new system coming together might cause delay.
I give the assurance that approval to alterations and additions to old-style development plans will not be withheld unreasonably in the transitional period. But it would be both unsatisfactory and potentially wasteful for both planning authorities and the Secretary of State if the power to set a programme for new-style business were not accompanied by power to control the old-style business.
There has to be this distinct restriction, so to speak, to allow the transition to go ahead smoothly. For that reason, paragraph 1 is there.
I am obliged to the hon. and learned Gentleman for raising this point. I hope that he will accept my assurance. We have other Amendments on Schedule 9, but his Amendment drawing this matter to our attention has been useful.

§ Mr. Wylie
I am grateful to the Minister of State for that reply and, in particular, for saying that consents for applications for modifications will not be unreasonably withheld. That was what I could not quite understand. However, I take the point of his argument, and I beg to ask leave to withdraw the Amendment.

§ Dr. Dickson Mabon
I beg to move Amendment No. 36, in page 122, line 38, after first 'of', insert 'the enactments in'.
This Amendment and the next two are drafting Amendments. I am indebted to the hon. and learned Member for Edinburgh, Pentlands (Mr. Wylie) for drawing attention to this matter by virtue of the last debate.