HL Deb 17 June 1963 vol 250 cc1095-7

3.7 p.m.

LORD STONHAM

My Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.

[The Question was as follows:

To ask Her Majesty's Government why they refused to allow the Covent Garden Market Authority to promote a Bill during the present session of Parliament, to remove the restriction imposed by Section 16 of the Covent Garden Market Act, 1961.]

THE JOINT PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY, MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD (LORD ST. OSWALD)

My Lords, I am grateful to the noble Lord for giving me the opportunity to explain why my right honourable friend did not give his consent to the Covent Garden Market Authority's promoting a Private Bill during the present Session. As your Lordships are aware, the practical effect of Section 16 of the Covent Garden Market Act, 1961, is to require the Authority to provide a market inside the Covent Garden Area. In May, 1962, the Authority sought the consent of my right honourable friend to the introduction of a Bill in November, 1962, to enable them to rebuild the market on a site to be designated later by Special Procedure Order. My right honourable friend refused this request, on the ground that, as Her Majesty's Government have always maintained, Parliament should not be asked to amend the Act until the Authority have examined all aspects of the problem, until they have fully consulted all the interests concerned, and until they have found a generally acceptable site. We also consider that the sort of subordinate legislation which such a Bill, at this juncture, would later entail is inappropriate for such an important matter, on which views differ widely and which affects many private rights and interests.

LORD STONHAM

My Lords, while thanking the noble Lord for that fertile but unfruitful reply, may I ask him whether he recalls that in 1961, when we were considering this Bill, the Government faithfully promised that if the Market Authority wished to come back to revise this clause they would be given every assistance? The Market Authority now having done so, they have met with a blank refusal on the part of the Government until next year, thereby, in my view, unnecessarily wasting one year and making a total wastage of three years.

LORD ST. OSWALD

No, my Lords, the refusal was not blank. The refusal was on the grounds which I have described to-day, and it was a delay for the reason which I have described. The noble Lord is mistaken in thinking that in fact the course which he advocates would have expedited it. The position to-day is that the Authority are still considering possible sites, and it would still be in exactly the same position had my right honourable friend consented, in May, 1962, to the introduction of a Private Bill. If they can reach a generally acceptable decision within the next few months an amending Bill can be introduced at the beginning of the next Parliamentary Session.

LORD STONHAM

My Lords, is the noble Lord aware that the Authority have made up their mind that they are not going to build at Seven Dials, and to have amended Section 16 in the way they desire would have saved a year when they do make up their minds? Moreover, under the Act the Market Authority must build the market within seven years. Three years will have elapsed before the Authority can possibly make a start. What will be the position of the Market Authority if they cannot comply with the seven-year requirement?

LORD ST. OSWALD

The second part of the noble Lord's question is hypothetical, and I am sure he does not expect me to answer it. In regard to the first part of the question, I can only reply that we did not, and still do not, think it right that the substantive Act of Parliament should omit any mention of the specific site; but we made it clear, and it is still clear, that the Authority would be free to look outside the Covent Garden area, and if there were general support for such a move my right honourable friend would not withhold his consent to a Private Bill giving the Authority the necessary powers. That is still the position.

LORD WILMOT OF SELMESTON

My Lords, are we to understand that the Seven Dials proposal will not be proceeded with?

LORD ST. OSWALD

My Lords, this is a question between the Market Authority and those with whom they are consulting. When they have reached their conclusions they will refer them to the Government. It would be quite improper for me to start commenting on them before then.

LORD WILMOT OF SELMESTON

Has the noble Lord any idea when the conclusions will be reached?

LORD ST. OSWALD

Not a close enough idea to give the noble Lord to-day.

LORD STONHAM

Does the noble Lord think that, if I keep on at it, he will eventually give me a "ripe" answer?