HL Deb 01 August 1966 vol 276 cc1064-5

2.25 p.m.

Order of the Day for the Second Reading read.

LORD SORENSEN

My Lords, I beg to move that this Bill be now read a second time. The Bill is to confirm a Provisional Order made under Section 149 of the Local Government Act 1933. That provision empowers the Minister of Housing and Local Government to make orders amending orders previously made under the 1933 Act (or under any corresponding enactment repealed by that Act). The amending Order must follow the same procedure and comply with the like conditions as the original Order and be made by the same authority.

The present Order is made by the Minister, on the application of the Oxford City Council with the agreement of the University. Its purpose is to amend the City of Oxford Order 1889, which relates inter alia to the election of City councillors representing the University of Oxford, in order to simplify the method of electing such councillors. At present they are elected partly by Convocation and partly by certain senior members of the University. The Order substitutes election by congregation of the University.

The Order of 1889 was a provisional Order made by the Local Government Board and was the subject of a public inquiry. As I have explained, the powers under which this Order is made require it to follow the same procedure as the original Order. This Order is therefore a provisional Order made by the Minister of Housing and Local Government, and an inquiry was held after local and national advertisement. Two objections were received, only one of which was pursued at the inquiry. Both objections related to the wider question whether University representation was desirable and democratic. This wider question goes beyond the Minister's jurisdiction in relation to this Order. It is generally agreed that the change proposed in the Order is an improvement. The remaining provisions in the Order are merely consequential and the tidying up of outdated references in the 1889 Order. I beg to move.

Moved, That the Bill be now read 2a.—(Lord Sorensen.)

On Question, Bill read 2a, and committed to the Committee on Unopposed Bills.