HC Deb 28 July 1982 vol 28 c1191

Lords amendment: No. 13, in page 65, line 43, leave out "following proviso—"" and insert words" except that for the purposes of their so applying the reference to "section 5(1) or, as the case may be, 7(4)" in section 6(1)(b) shall be construed as a reference to subsection (4) of this section:

Mr. Allan Stewart

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

Mr. Millan

Following the Under-Secretary's illuminating reply on the previous amendment, perhaps he will explain No. 13 with similar clarity.

Mr. Stewart

The application of the appropriate improvement grant provisions of the Housing (Scotland) Act 1974 to the grants for provision of means of escape from fire in houses in multiple occupation brought to light an inconsistency in the method by which the same provisions were related to the repairs grant introduced by the Housing (Financial Provisions) (Scotland) Act 1978.

The opportunity was taken to introduce this technical amendment to improve the position.

I assure the right hon. Gentleman that this is a minor technical amendment intended to improve an inconsistency in the method by which the appropriate improvement grant provisions of the Housing (Scotland) Act 1974 were related to the repairs grant provisions introduced into that Act by the Housing (Financial Provisions) (Scotland) Act 1978.

I hope that makes the position clear. If not, I assure the right hon. Gentleman that I shall write to him spelling out the technicalities in as much detail as possible.

Lords amendment agreed to.

Lords amendments Nos. 14 to 16 agreed to.