§ Moved, "That the Bill be now read 3a."—(Lord Wolverton.)
§ On Question, Motion agreed to.
LORD WOLVERTONMy Lords, I beg to move the deletion of the proviso at the end of Clause 4, which runs as follows—
Provided always that any local authority having power to purchase any part of an undertaking being wholly or partly within the administrative county of London may subject to the provisions of this section and to the like consents transfer such rights to the London County Council.In asking your Lordships to omit this proviso, I do so with the consent of all my colleagues on the Committee over which I had the honour to preside and which inserted this proviso, with the deletion of which the Board of Trade and the Local Government Board agree. I will explain shortly what would be the effect of retaining the proviso in the clause. Let me take the case of Westminster. Supposing Westminster under this Bill did not choose to become its own electric lighting authority it would be able to hand over its powers to the London County Council. But supposing the London County Council did not make a success of the enterprise in Westminster, not only would the rates of Westminster be liable, but also the rates of the whole of London. On these grounds I ask your Lordships to accept the Amendment.
§
Amendment moved—
In Clause 4, page 3, line 33, to leave out from the word 'transfer,' to the end of the clause."—(Lord Wolverton.)
§ On Question, Amendment agreed to.
§ Moved, "That the Bill do pass."—(Lord Wolverton.)
§ On Question, Motion agreed to.
§ Bill passed, and sent to the Commons.