HC Deb 20 October 1972 vol 843 c704

Lords Amendment: No. 19, page 22, line 25, at end insert new Clause "F"— F. In section 27(1) of the Housing Act 1957 (which prescribes the maximum punishment for the use of premises in breach of a closing order) for the words 'twenty pounds' there shall be substituted the words '£100'; and for the words 'five pounds' there shall in relation to any day after the coming into force of this section be substituted the words '£20'.

Mr. Lane

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

Here again we are introducing another new Clause with something of the same effect as the previous Clause. This originated from a new Clause moved by Lord Stow Hill in Committee in another place. As a result of this and the further consideration we gave to it, this Clause was added in another place on Report. It increases from £20 to £100 the maximum penalty for using premises in breach of a closing order. It also increases from £5 to £20 the maximum daily penalty for continued use after conviction.

The House will have noticed towards the end of the Clause the words: in relation to any day after the coming into force of this section …". That is simply to ensure, in accordance with the general principle of human rights, that a person is not made liable to the enhanced daily penalty in respect of non-compliance with the closing order before the Section came into force. A similar safeguard in relation to the main penalty increase, and the others in the Bill, is in Lords Amendment No. 28.

Question put and agreed to.