ESSENTIAL BUILDINGS AND PLANT (REPAIR OF WAR DAMAGE) BILL. (Hansard, 1 September 1939)

§ THE DUKE OF DEVONSHIRE

My Lords, I beg to move that this Bill be now read a second time. There are many classes of property other than dwelling-houses whose maintenance is essential during war time and this Bill deals with some of the steps which the Government think it necessary to take to ensure that a sufficient number of such buildings is kept in a condition fit for use during an emergency. The general principles underlying the Bill are very similar to those of the Housing (Emergency Powers) Bill. Broadly speaking, the Bill provides that the Government Department concerned shall ascertain and approve the repairs to be executed, and find the capital when necessary, and, as in the case of housing accommodation, that where any money is advanced for rebuilding of a particular property, it will become a charge on that property.

943 The proposed arrangements will apply to buildings which in the opinion of the appropriate Minister, (a) are essential to the welfare of the civil population, (b) have become wholly or partly incapable of use for their normal purpose by reason of war damage, (c) can he repaired at a reasonable cost, and (d) whose repair is essential owing to the lack of other buildings available for the purpose for which the building is used. The appropriate Minister will be, in relation to any building or undertaking, the Minister in charge of the Government Department concerned with the purposes for which the building is used or the undertaking is carried on. The Bill places these buildings in three categories: A, buildings owned or occupied by local authorities, such as hospitals, first aid posts, or schools; B, buildings of the same class in private ownership; and C, buildings not directly connected with the normal activities of a local authority (such as bakeries).

As regards Class A, the appropriate Minister may direct repairs to be carried out, lending the necessary money for the purpose. As regards Class B, if the owner is willing but financially unable to have repairs done, the appropriate Minister may require the housing authority either to lend the money or to do the repairs. As regards Class C, if the owner is willing but financially unable to have repairs done, either the housing authority or the appropriate Minister may lend the necessary money. Any loans made either by the housing authority or a Minister, and any expenses incurred by a local authority in carrying out repairs, will remain as registered charges on the property, and no demand for repayment will he made until after the emergency.

The Bill also provides that the appropriate Minister may lend money for the reinstatement of plant, under conditions similar to those specified for buildings. The Bill farther provides that the conditions attaching to loans must be approved by the Treasury. They have already been drafted, and will be the same for loans by each Department. As regards buildings, they provide for no repayment of capital or payment of interest during the emergency. Loans for plant will be secured on the rates in the case of a local authority, by a debenture 944 in the case of a company, and in other cases by a floating charge under the conditions set out in the Bill and the Schedule. The conditions provide for interest being payable and instalments or sinking fund payments being made in respect of such loans. As in the case of the Housing Bill, a circular is being sent to local authorities setting out the main provisions of the Bill. I beg to move that the Bill be read a second time.