§ Mr. Guy BarnettI beg to move Amendment No. 31, in page 6, line 22, leave out 'an industrial building' and insert
'a building which—As I said when moving New Clause No. 2, the Government have accepted that the arguments put forward both in Committee and by many outside bodies that the provisions in the Bill that were originally limited to industrial buildings should be extended to cover commercial activities in general. This amendment enables designated district authorities in special areas to pay rent grants for buildings used for commercial as well as industrial premises.
- (a) is intended for use for industrial or commercial purposes; and
- (b)is.'.
The amendment also gives effect to an undertaking made by my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State for Industry in Committee following, I understand, a discussion with my hon. Friend the Member for Sheffield, Heeley (Mr. Hooley). He pointed out, quite correctly, that the Bill as drafted excluded buildings that were not at present used as industrial buildings but were intended to be so used; but conversely it included industrial buildings for which no industrial use was planned. My hon. Friend the Under-Secretary undertook to put this right, so this amendment enables a grant to be given to someone intending to use, for example, a redundant school for commercial or industrial purposes.
§ Amendment agreed to.