§ 6.45 p.m.
§ Mr. Guy BarnettI beg to move Amendment No. 12, in page 7, line 26, at end insert: 102
'(3) The preceding provisions of this section shall have effect, in relation to any area which in pursuance of section 40 of the Housing Act 1969 or section 49 of the Housing Act 1974 is for the time being declared by the Greater London Council to be a general improvement area or a housing action area, as if in subsection (1) of this section for the words preceding paragraph (a) there were substituted the words "If it appears to the Greater London Council that any unoccupied premises in the area in respect of which—"and for the words "the authority" in both places there were substituted the words "the Council".'.Clause 7, which applies to houses which are unoccupied as a consequence of a closing order, or an undertaking given by the owner that they will not be used for human habitation, empowers district councils to carry out necessary works to secure such premises against unauthorised entry by vandals, vagrants, and children. It can thus be regarded as an extension of the statutory procedure resulting in the closing order or undertaking.In general improvement areas and housing action areas declared by the GLC, that authority is the Part 11/57 Act authority, and is thus empowered to make closing orders. Therefore it should have the powers of Clause 7 in respect of houses in general improvement areas and housing action areas declared by it.
This amendment achieves this, and meets the commitment given to my hon. Friend the Member for Leicester, South (Mr. Marshall) at Committee stage that a Government amendment would be tabled following the withdrawal of his amendment in Committee.
§ Amendment agreed to