HC Deb 08 July 1996 vol 281 c111

'.—(1) In the Welsh Development Agency Act 1975, after section 10 insert—

"Financial assistance for regeneration and development

10A.—(1) The Secretary of State may appoint the Agency to act as his agent in connection with such of his functions mentioned in subsection (2) below as he may specify.

(2) The functions are—

  1. (a) functions under sections 126 to 128 of the Housing Grants, Construction and Regeneration Act 1996 (financial assistance for regeneration and development), so far as they relate to—
    1. (i) financial assistance which the Agency has power to give apart from this section; or
    2. (ii) financial assistance given under that Act in pursuance of an agreement entered into by the Secretary of State for Wales before the coming into force of this section, or
  2. (b) functions of the Secretary of State in relation to financial assistance given by the Secretary of State for Wales under sections 27 to 29 of the Housing and Planning Act 1986.

(3) An appointment under this section shall be on such terms as the Secretary of State, with the approval of the Treasury, may specify; and the Agency shall act under the appointment in accordance with those terms.

(4) The Agency's powers in relation to functions under an appointment under this section include the powers it has in relation to functions under subsection (3) of section I by virtue of subsections (6) and (7) of that section."

(2) In section 2(8) of that Act, after "declared that" insert ", except as provided by section 10A below,".'.—[Mr. Gwilym Jones.]

Brought up, and read the First time.

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Wales (Mr. Gwilym Jones)

I beg to move, That the clause be read a Second time.

Mr. Deputy Speaker

With this, it will be convenient to discuss Government amendment No. 118.

Mr. Jones

New clause 18 allows my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State to appoint the Welsh Development Agency to act as his agent in connection, first, with his functions relating to regeneration and development under clauses 126 to 128 of the present Bill where those functions fall within the agency's powers; and, secondly, in connection with the administration of financial assistance for urban investment grant agreements entered into under sections 27 to 29 of the Housing and Planning Act 1986. The effect of amendment No. 118 is that the new clause will come into force the usual two months after Royal Assent.

Question put and agreed to.

Clause read a Second time, and added to the Bill.

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