HL Deb 22 April 1971 vol 317 cc848-9

[No. 45]

Schedule 3, page 45, line 39, at end insert "or estate".

THE LORD CHANCELLOR

My Lords, I beg to move that this House doth agree with the Commons in their Amendment No. 45. With it is linked No. 50. These Amendments are also concerned with local authorities that own premises which are let to other local authorities that have a duty to provide court accommodation. At present the owning authority would be caught by the provisions of paragraph 3(4) and 3(5) of Schedule 3 which would enable the Secretary of State to acquire their premises, in so far as they were used for the abolished courts, without compensation. This would be unfair to a local authority which let premises to another authority on a more or less commercial basis because, as landlord, they were under no duty to provide courts. The Amendments ensure that the relevant paragraphs do not apply to local authorities which were not using premises to discharge any obligation to provide accommodation for the abolished courts. Amendment No. 45 is simply a drafting Amendment to pick up the correct terminology of paragraph 3(1) while the later Amendment deals with the substantial point and with related matters such as loan charges.

Moved, that this House doth agree with the Commons in the said Amendment.—(The Lord Chancellor.)

On Question, Motion agreed to.