HL Deb 21 February 1952 vol 175 cc193-5

3.50 p.m.

VISCOUNT SIMON

My Lords, it most unfortunately happens that my noble friend Lord Halifax is prevented by temporary illness, not serious, I hope, from being here to-day to move the Resolution standing in his name on the Order Paper—namely, That this House regrets that the Southern Gas Board should attempt to revive a scheme for additional installations on land adjacent to the existing Gas Works at Oxford since such a scheme would inflict further grave injury on the amenities of Oxford, and has already been rejected by Parliament. He has asked me, in his inevitable absence, to take charge of the Resolution for him. I was prepared to move it and if know that other noble Lords in the House, including my noble friend Lord Samuel, were ready to support it. I think, too, that the noble Lord, Lord Kershaw, who was the Chairman of the Select Committee of this House which rejected the proposal to authorise the erection of further constructions, was prepared to speak.

However, it has been intimated quite recently that the noble Lord, Lord Leathers, who is the Minister who would intervene in the debate from the Government Bench, has a reassuring statement to make on this subject, on behalf of the Ministry of Fuel and Power. I understand that he is willing to make that statement forthwith. It seems to me that it would be a pity to launch what might be an extended debate on the present position if that position is about to be altered for the better by the statement which the noble Lord proposes to make. Therefore, if I may have your Lordships' permission, instead of moving the Motion I would ask the noble Lord, Lord Leathers, whether he would make this statement as though I were now addressing a Private Notice Question to him. Since I should not be in order if I spoke or argued again, I would ask leave to add one thing before Lord Leathers speaks: I shall, of course, make it my business at once to report the statement which he makes to us this afternoon to Lord Halifax, and I have no doubt that Lord Halifax will wish to consult his friends, and those who are acting with him, as to the future. In those circumstances, my Lords, I address to Lord Leathers the Question which I have in- dicated, instead of moving the Resolution on the Order Paper.

3.53 p.m.

THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE CO-ORDINATION OF TRANSPORT, FUEL AND POWER (LORD LEATHERS)

My Lords, first of all I should like to say how sorry I am to hear that, through indisposition, Lord Halifax is not able to be with us this afternoon. I know that he intended to move this Resolution, and I feel that the words I have to say may be a little contribution towards his speedy recovery. I think that they will be generally acceptable.

The Resolution standing on the Order Paper is concerned with a scheme for extending the Oxford Gas Works on land adjoining the existing Works in Oxford. The Southern Gas Board, which is the body responsible for providing Oxford with its gas supply, recently applied to the Oxford City Council, as the planning authority, for the necessary planning permission to proceed with this extension of their works. The Board's application was rejected by the Council. What I have now to tell your Lordships is that the Board have informed me that they have decided not to appeal against the decision of the Council and have so informed them. The scheme to which the Motion refers has therefore lapsed, and I suggest to your Lordships that in these circumstances little would be gained by debating the matter further.

VISCOUNT SIMON

My Lords, I am very glad to hear the statement which the noble Lord has made, and I am sure that others will share my satisfaction. It is satisfactory to hear that the decision of the Oxford City Council not to grant planning permission will not be further challenged. In those circumstances, while reserving, of course, all rights for a future occasion, I will say no more to-day.

3.56 p.m.

EARL JOWITT

My Lords, I should like to say how very happy I also am to hear the statement which has just been made by the noble Lord, Lord Leathers. Though not singled out for mention, I, too, was prepared to sneak on this matter, and indeed I have the misery of going away without delivering the speech upon which I had spent a lot of time. But that is a small matter. I do feel that all those who live at Oxford, those who have associations with Oxford, and that much wider circle of people, whether with associations or not, who regard Oxford as a great national heritage, will be profoundly thankful to learn of the statement which the noble Lord has made. Though I do not ask him to add anything more to-day, because he has given us very good value for our money, I would express my own personal hope that the time will come when I hear the noble Lord say that even the existing works are to be moved from where they now stand to another site.

3.57 p.m.

VISCOUNT SAMUEL

My Lords, like the noble and learned Earl, Lord Jowitt, I too am suffering from an attack of arrested eloquence, but it is well worth bearing, in view of the most satisfactory character of the statement that has been made. Indeed, I rise only to say what I think should be said—namely, that all those who are interested in this matter are extremely grateful to the noble Lord, Lord Leathers, for his intervention in it. His intervention, I think, has contributed very greatly to this satisfactory outcome.