COMMONS AMENDMENT. (Hansard, 24 October 1944)

§ THE LORD CHANCELLOR

My Lords, the House will remember that Clauses 1 and 2 of the Bill laid down a code for conciliation and settlement of certain debts relating for the most part 634 to empty houses in areas which had been declared evacuation areas. In such areas the law provides for a moratorium in respect of such debts. Clause 3 enables the Lord Chancellor to apply that procedure to areas which have not been declared evacuation areas and have not, therefore, had a moratorium. The sort of area intended was an area like Brighton or Littlehampton where there has been what the Bill calls "extensive and prolonged evacuation" in somewhat similar circumstances. It has been pointed out, however, that there is some doubt whether the words in Clause 3 now in the Bill are sufficiently wide to cover such a case as that of the Isle of Wight. In the Isle of Wight it would be difficult perhaps to say there has been "extensive and prolonged evacuation." It has been prolonged and it has been considerable but, perhaps, it has not been extensive. It would therefore plainly be wrong to exclude the possibility of such an area being protected by the Bill. This proposal which I invite your Lordships to accept, is to answer as a further alternative so as to include an area access to which has been or was restricted for a prolonged period as a result of war circumstances. I beg to move that this House doth agree with the Commons in the said Amendment.