§ Page 42, line 3, leave out ("at any") and insert ("from time to")
§
Page 42, line 3, line 4, at end insert—
("(3) No further direction shall be given under subsection (2) of this section within two years from the date on which notice was given of the previous direction, but this subsection shall not prevent a further direction being given before that time with the written consent of the owner and occupier of the trade premises, and any direction given with such consent shall not affect the time at which any subsequent direction may be given.")
§ LORD BRECONMy Lords, I beg to move that this House doth agree with the Commons Amendments Nos. 17 and 18, which go together with Nos. 22, 23, 27 and 28. Amendments Nos. 17 and 18 are the first two of six related Amendments. Their combined effect is to make an identical modification in the three clauses, Clauses 54, 56 and 59, which provide for the imposition of charges and conditions on trade effluents discharged to public sewers. As the Bill was drafted, the local authority was free to alter at any time any of the charges or conditions which they had imposed under these clauses. It was represented in your Lordships' House by the noble Lord, Lord Jessel, I think—and I undertook to consider the point—that traders should have some protection against too frequent changes, and that local authorities should be obliged to wait for some prescribed minimum period before seeking to alter their requirements. The Amendments prescribe a period of two years, unless the owner and occupier of the premises agree in writing to a shorter time. I am informed that they are generally acceptable to industry and local authorities.
§ Moved, That this House doth agree with the Commons in the said Amendments.—(Lord Brecon.)
§ On Question, Motion agreed to.