Schedule 15 (Hansard, 19 July 1972)

§ Mr. Speed

I beg to move Amendment No. 1156, in page 262, leave out lines 17 to 24.

I understand that it is for the convenience of the House also to discuss Amendment No. 1157, in Schedule 30.

The Amendments are concerned with Section 9 of the Reservoirs (Safety Provisions) Act, 1930, which makes provision as to the expenses under that Act of various authorities. Paragraph 1 of Schedule 15 was intended to preserve the existing position and empowered the Secretary of State to direct that the expenses of county councils and district councils shall be chargeable only on those parts of their areas which benefit from actions under the Act. The provision made would, however, not conform with Clause 146, which provides that district councils may themselves by resolution declare expenses to be chargeable only on part of their areas and it also left the London borough councils not provided for.

The Amendments make different provisions. Amendment No. 1156 removes paragraph 1 of Schedule 15, and Amendment No. 1157 leaves Section 9 of the 1930 Act operating for county councils and London borough councils, but removes from it all references to urban and rural district councils, leaving the new district councils to Clause 146.