§ Order of the Day for the House to be put into Committee on recommitment of the Bill read.
§ 11.5 a.m.
§ THE UNDER - SECRETARY OF STATE FOR WAR (THE EARL OF MUNSTER)My Lords, in moving that the House do resolve itself into Committee on this Bill, perhaps I may be permitted to say a few words about the Bill as I refrained from explaining its purpose on Second Reading, because a Petition had been presented against it. That Petition has now been satisfactorily disposed of. The Bill is intended to make provision for the extension of the civil airport at Heston and the Royal Air Force Aerodrome at Hendon. These are required on account of the increased runway needed by new types of machines.
There are eleven clauses and two Schedules in the Bill. The first Clause enables the land known in the Bill as Heston land to be compulsorily acquired at any time up to 1st October, 1942. Clause 2 incorporates the Lands Clauses Act subject to the provisions of the Bill itself and in particular to the specific modifications which are found within this Clause. Clause 3 provides that no compensation shall be paid in respect of improvements or alterations made in property acquired after 18th April, 1939, which, in the opinion of the Tribunal to whom the disputed compensation will be referred was not reasonably necessary. Clause 5 is inserted for the protection of 644 the Rector of Cranford. Clause 6 gives the necessary sanction of Parliament to the Agreement between the Secretary of State and the City Corporation as to the stopping up of certain roads, a description of which is found in the First Schedule to the Bill. Clause 8 exonerates the Secretary of State for Air from the payment of Land Tax. I beg to move that the House do resolve itself into Committee.
§ Moved, That the House do now resolve itself into Committee.—(The Earl of Munster.)
§ On Question, Motion agreed to.
§ House in Committee accordingly: Bill reported without amendment.