HL Deb 14 December 1926 vol 65 cc1639-41

Amendment reported (according to Order).

Clause 2 [Power of local authorities to make grants or loans]:

VISCOUNT GAGE moved, at the end of subsection (5), to insert: Provided that—

  1. (i) where loans are to be made to the same person in respect of two or more dwellings, those loans may, if it is so agreed between that person and the local authority, be secured by a single mortgage charged on all the dwellings jointly, and where two or more loans are so secured this subsection shall have effect as if the several loans constituted a single loan and as if the expression 'the dwelling' included a reference to the several dwellings in respect of which the loans are made; and
  2. (ii) if so agreed as aforesaid, a loan may be secured on lands of which the site of the dwelling in respect of which the loan is being made forms part, but nothing in this provision shall authorise the local authority to lend more than the sum which they would have been authorised to lend had the loan been secured only on the dwelling."

The noble Viscount said: My Lords, the Amendment that I have to move at this stage may appear long, but in reality it is comparatively unimportant and will not, I think, call for much criticism from your Lordships. The first paragraph of the proposed proviso is intended to enable an owner who obtains assistance by way of loans in respect of more than one dwelling to give security by means of a single mortgage, and it is anticipated that this will avert the expense of a number of separate conveyancing transactions. The second paragraph is intended to enable an owner who is obtaining a loan to include in the security that he gives to the local authority land other than that which forms the site of the dwelling. This proviso is thought to give a little extra elasticity to the local authorities, and it may be convenient in the case of cottages standing on large estates.

Amendment moved— Page 5, line 27, at end insert the said proviso.—(Viscount Gage.)

LORD PARMOOR

My Lords, I have very carefully studied the proposed Amendments, and I entirely agree with the noble Viscount that they are both good Amendments in themselves and will really make it more easy to carry out the business. Everybody desires that a Bill of this kind should be as simple as possible and should not lead to legal expenses. I heartily support both the noble Viscount's Amendments, and I think that they improve the Bill.

VISCOUNT GAGE

I am much obliged to the noble and learned Lord.

On Question, Amendment agreed to.

Clause 8 [Application to Scotland]:

VISCOUNT GAGE

My Lords, my Amendment to this clause is consequential.

Amendment moved— Page 11, line 34, leave out from ("accordingly") to the end of the paragraph.—(Viscount Gage.)

On Question, Amendment agreed to.

Then (Standing Order No. XXXIX having been suspended), Bill read 3ª, with the Amendments, and passed, and returned to the Commons.