PUBLIC OFFICES (SITES) AMENDMENT BILL. (Hansard, 30 April 1931)

§ THE CHANCELLOR OF THE DUCHY OF LANCASTER (LORD PONSONBY OF SHULBREDE)
My Lords, I beg to move, 992 That this House do concur in the following Resolution communicated by the Commons—namely, "That it is expedient that the Bill be committed to a Joint Committee of Lords and Commons." I think this is a purely formal Motion, and I am not called upon at this stage to go into the details of the measure at all. The Bill has two operative clauses: first, the question of the rate of interest payable to His Majesty on the vesting of certain Crown Lands, on the site chosen for the erection of new Government offices, in the Commissioner of Works; and, secondly, the removal of the restriction placed by the principal Act of 1912 on the building line at the part of the Embankment proposed for the site of the offices. The first point is merely a matter of adjustment between two Government Departments. On the second point I think there is a certain amount of opposition from the London County Council and the Westminster City Council. But I think at this stage all that it is necessary for me to say is that this is the most appropriate body before which this Bill could be placed, and I beg to move that we agree with the Message from the Commons.

§ THE EARL OF IDDESLEIGH
My Lords, on the distinct understanding that I shall have the full right to move the rejection of the Bill on its Second Reading in this House, I shall not make any comments on the Motion before the House. The House will, of course, have the full right to reject the Bill when it comes back from the Committee, I understand.

§ LORD PONSONBY OF SHULBREDE
Yes. The Bill, when it emerges from the Committee, will go through all its stages in this House, and your Lordships will have full opportunity to criticise it and to make Amendments.