§ 3.18 p.m.
§ THE JOINT PARLIAMENTARY UNDER-SECRETARY OF STATE, HOME OFFICE (LORD STONHAM)My Lords, I beg to move that the Civil Defence (Shelter) (Maintenance) (Amendments) Regulations 1965, a draft of which was laid before your Lordships' House on March 3, be approved. These Regulations are required because the London Government Act, 1963, comes into force on April 1 next. The Regulations have been prepared at the request of the Greater London Council and the London boroughs. The purpose of the Regulations is to confer on the Greater London Council the function of maintaining existing Civil Defence shelter for occupants of blocks of flats formerly owned by the London County Council. By reason of Section 23(1) of the 1963 Act, these blocks of flats vest in the Greater London Council on April 1 next.
Under Section 49(1) of the London Government Act, 1963, responsibility for Civil Defence functions generally is placed on the London borough councils. If, therefore, these Regulations were not made, responsibility for maintenance of the shelters, formerly the concern of the L.C.C., would pass on April 1 to the appropriate London boroughs. The Greater London Council and the new London borough councils consider, however, that it would be desirable and convenient that the work should continue to be done, as it was done by the L.C.C., as part of the normal maintenance of the estates. The draft Regulations are in tended to give effect to this wish.
The opportunity has also been taken to omit the reference to Luton from the Schedule to the Civil Defence (Shelter) (Maintenance) Regulations of 1956, which lists certain county districts having the same functions under the Regulations as county boroughs. This is because, as Luton has become a county borough the reference has become redundant.
§ Moved, That the Draft Civil Defence (Shelter) (Maintenance) (Amendments) Regulations 1965, laid before the House on March 3, be approved.—(Lord stonham.)
§ On Question, Motion agreed to.