HC Deb 02 November 1976 vol 918 cc1307-9

Lords amendment: No, 5, in page 8, line 20, leave out "except that" and insert but—

  1. (a) the Secretary of State may direct that any land shall not be so treated if, in his opinion, it is inappropriate to do so; and
  2. (b)"

Mr. Deputy Speaker (Mr. Bryant Godman Irvine)

With this we may take Lords Amendments Nos. 14, 15 and 20.

Mr. Guy Barnett

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

This amendment, together with later consequential amendments, was tabled in response to the views of local authority representatives on the Finance Sub-Group of the Official Working Group on the Bill. Clause 6(6) requires that all buildings or other land transferred to the district council or managed by it, shall not be treated as having been provided under Part V of the Housing Act 1957, if in the Secretary of State's opinion, it would be inappropriate to do so.

The objective of this provision was to ensure that the expenditure in respect of the property was chargeable to the council's housing revenue account and thus qualified, where appropriate, for subsidy. However, it was pointed out that some of the housing related assets which may be transferred or managed under the terms of the Bill are not eligible for housing subsidy and, had they been provided by the district council, would not necessarily have been included in the housing revenue account. Examples are meeting halls and recreational facilities. To require the district council to include them in its housing revenue account could be contrary to its normal practice and could create anomalies in administration.

Question put and agreed to.

Lords Amendments Nos. 6 to 12 agreed to.

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