HC Deb 15 May 1973 vol 856 cc1445-6

POWER TO PAY EXPENSES OF PERSONS MOVING TEMPORARILY DURING CONSTRUCTION WORKS ETC.

Lords A mendment: No. 34, in page 24, line 30, at end insert new Clause B—

" B.—(1) This section has effect where works are carried out—

  1. (a) by a highway authority for the construction or improvement of a highway; or
  2. (b) by a responsible authority for the construction or alteration of any public works other than a highway,
and the carrying out of those works affects the enjoyment of a dwelling adjacent to the site on which they are being carried out to such an extent that continued occupation of the dwelling is not reasonably practicable.

(2) Subject to paragraph (3) below, the highway authority or responsible authority, as the case may be, may pay any reasonable expenses incurred by the occupier of the dwelling in providing suitable alternative residential accommodation for himself and members of his household for the whole or any part of the period during which the works are being carried out.

(3) No payment shall be made to any person under this section in respect of any expenses except in pursuance of an agreement made between that person and the authority concerned before the expenses are incurred; and no payment shall be so made except in respect of the amount by which the expenses exceed those which that person would have incurred if the dwelling had continued to be occupied.

(4) In this section 'public works' and 'responsible authority' have the same meaning as in section 1 above.

(5) In the application of this section to Scotland 'highway authority' has the same meaning as in the Roads (Scotland) Act 1970, and in subsection (1) for any reference to a highway there shall be substituted a reference to a road."

Mr. Eldon Griffiths

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

The clause provides a discretionary power for local authorities and other responsible authorities to pay to the occupants of dwellings, which temporarily are seriously affected by the carrying out of highway and other public works, reasonable expenses incurred in providing themselves with temporary alternative accommodation. In Committee, we were concerned whether authorities could put up people in lodgings or hotels during a period of physical hardship—dust, dirt and noise— caused by construction. The clause fulfils the undertaking which I gave.

Mr. Mulley

This is a further improvement to the Bill. If we seem to rush through these amendments, that does not take away the gratitude that we have for the very reasonable and sympathetic way in which many proposals made by hon. Members on both sides of the Committee have been studied and incorporated into amendments in another place.

It is regrettable—and I do not accuse either Minister of discourtesy in this respect—that the business managers of the House have seen fit to put these very important amendments on at this late hour, especially when the Report stage had to be taken between the hours of 9.40 p.m. and 4 o'clock on the morning. This is a very important Bill. I think that it could have been treated better. However, I do not want to hold it up because many people will benefit. We should get on. I do not want to keep getting up and saying "Thank you" to the right hon. Gentleman. I hope he will accept this omnibus vote of thanks, except for such points as we wish to raise.

Question put and agreed to. [Special Entry.]

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