§ The Joint Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Housing and Local Government (Mr. Arthur Skeffington)I beg to move Amendment No. 37, in page 16, line 36, leave out from 'shall' to 'in' in line 37 and insert 'state to the applicant'.
This Amendment is to give an automatic right where a grant has been refused so that the applicant shall know about it as a matter of course. Previously, he had to apply. There is no reason why an applicant should not know, and the Amendment would have that effect.
§ Mr. Graham PageClause 27 imposes on local authorities an obligation to state the reasons for refusing a grant. I notice that this Amendment, the effect of which the hon. Gentleman has explained, is in the name of the Chancellor of the Exchequer. Why is he not here to move it himself? Is he frightened to do so? Is it not significant that the Chancellor has put down an Amendment which requires an authority to give an explanation without being asked for it?
Will the Chancellor of the Exchequer take it to heart on other occasions and give the House an explanation without the House necessarily asking for it every time?
§ Amendment agreed to.