HL Deb 02 July 1968 vol 294 cc277-8

[Nos. 3 and 4] Clause 25, page 26, line 29, after ("contributions") insert ("of such amount in each case as they shall, having regard to all the circumstances, consider reasonable ")

The Commons disagreed to this Amendment, but proposed the following Amendment in lieu thereof:—

Page 26, line 28, leave out subsections (3) and (4) and insert— ("() The highway authority shall contribute not less than a quarter of any expenses shown to their satisfaction to have been reasonably incurred in compliance with subsection (1) above, and shall have power to make further contributiotis of such amount in each case as they shall, having regard to all the circumstances, consider reasonable.")

LORD KENNET

My Lords, I beg to move that the House doth not insist upon their Amendment No. 3, to which the Commons have disagreed. With the leave of the House I should also like to speak to No. 4, which is a drafting Amendment to make the Government intention clear. It is intended that highway authorities shall be under an obligation to contribute 25 per cent. of the expenses reasonably incurred in carrying out maintenance (I think all noble Lords here present will remember from our earlier discussions what I ant talking about) and that they should have discretion to make such further contributions as, in regard to the circumstances of each case, they consider reasonable.

Moved, That the House doth not insist on its Amendment (No. 3) to which the Commons have disagreed.—(Lord Kennet.)

LORD KENNET

My Lords, I beg to move.

Moved, That the House doth agree with the Commons in their Amendment (No. 4) in lieu of the Lords Amendment (No. 3) to which the Commons have disagreed.—(Lord Kennet.)