§ Order of the Day for the Third Reading read.
VISCOUNT GAGEMy Lords, I beg to move that this Bill be now read a third time. On the Committee stage of this Bill I promised Lord Phillimore that I 434 would look into the point as to whether an owner who had been required to carry out certain works under Section 9 of the Housing Act, 1936, was entitled to a certificate that the house had been made fit for human habitation, when those works had been completed. I gave him an incomplete but not incorrect answer. I regret if there was any misunderstanding, but the noble Lord was trying to amend an Act other than that which was actually before the House, and indeed making a rather complicated point about it. Under these circumstances possibly misunderstanding is apt to arise. However, we are always anxious to oblige noble Lords, and I have looked into the point again. I can tell him that provided the works are of such a character as to render the house in all respects fit for human habitation—provided, that is, that the works are of a size and character as to have entitled him to a certificate under Section 51 of the Act—he would be so entitled to a certificate even though the works had been carried out in response to an order under Section 9. Notices under Section 9 are sent out for minor repairs as well as major repairs and in that case naturally a certificate would not be available. But in general I must say that the hiatus the noble Lord suspected between the two sections does not really exist. I hope this satisfies Lord Phillimore, but if it does not, perhaps it would be more convenient if he would put down a question on the specific point. I beg to move.
§ Moved, That the Bill be now read 3a.—(Viscount Gage.)
§ On Question, Bill read 3a, and passed.