§ 5.49 p.m.
§ LORD SANDFORDMy Lords. I beg to move that this Bill be now read a
§ 5.40 p.m.
§ On Question, Whether the Bill shall be now read 2ª?
§ Their Lordships divided: Contents, 142; Not-Contents, 6.
1057| CONTENTS | ||
| Aberdare, L. | Drumalbyn, L. | Northchurch, Bs. |
| Airedale, L. | Eccles, V. | Nugent, L. |
| Albemarle, E. | Elliot of Harwood, Bs. | Nunburnholme, L. |
| Alexander of Tunis, E. | Erroll of Hale, L. | Oakshott, L. |
| Amory, V. | Evans of Hungershall, L. | O'Hagan, L. |
| Amulree, L. | Falkland, V. | Phillips, Bs. |
| Ardwick, L. | Faringdon, L. | Platt, L. |
| Ashbourne, L. | Foot, L. | Rankeillour, L. |
| Auckland, L. | Fulton, L. | Rea, L. |
| Avebury, L. | Gage, V. | Reading, M. |
| Barnby, L. | Gaitskell, Bs. | Reay, L. |
| Beaumont of Whitley, L. | Gardiner, L. | Ritchie-Calder, L. |
| Belstead, L. | George-Brown, L. | Robbins, L. |
| Bessborough, E. | Gridley, L. | Ruthven of Freeland, Ly. |
| Bird wood, L. | Grimston of Westbury, L. | Sainsbury, L. |
| Blake, L. | Hailes, L. | St. Aldwyn, E. |
| Bledisloe, V. | Hailsham of Saint Marylebone, L. (L. Chancellor.) | St. Davids, V. |
| Blyton, L. | St. Helens, L. | |
| Boothby, L. | Hankey, L. | St. Just. L. |
| Brabazon of Tara, L. | Hanworth, V. | Saint Oswald, L. |
| Bradford, E. | Harris, L. | Sandford, L. |
| Bridgeman, V. | Headfort, M. | Sandys, L. |
| Brooke of Cumnor, L. | Henley, L. | Sempill, Ly. |
| Brooke of Ystradfellte, Bs. | Hoy, L. | Shackleton, L. |
| Brougham and Vaux, L. | Hughes, L. | Shepherd, L. |
| Hurcomb, L. | Sherfield, L. | |
| Buckinghamshire, E. | Hylton-Foster, Bs. | Shinwell, L. |
| Caccia, L. | Il ford, L. | Slater, L. |
| Champion, L. | Kilbracken, L. | Snow, L. |
| Clwyd, L. | Killearn, L. | Somers, L. |
| Colgrain, L. | Kilmarnock, L. | Stocks, Bs. |
| Collison, L. | Kinnoull, E. | Stonehaven, V. |
| Colville of Culross, V. | Leatherland, L. | Stonham, L. |
| Conesfortd, L. | Lee of Asheridge, Bs. [Teller.] | Strabolgi, L. |
| Cooper of Stockton Heath, L. | Lindsey and Abingdon, E. | Strang, L. |
| Courtown, E. | Long, V. | Strange of Knokin, Bs. |
| Craigavon, V. | Lothian, M. | Strathcarron, L. |
| Cranbrook, E. | Lucas of Chilworth, L. | Sudeley, L. |
| Crathorne, L. | McLeavy, L. | Summerskill, Bs. |
| Crook, L. | Maelor, L. | Taylor of Mansfield, L. |
| Davidson, V. | Margadale, L. | Terrington, L. |
| Davies of Leek, L. | Massereene and Ferrard, V. | Tweedsmuir of Belhelvie, Bs. |
| de Clifford, L. | Merrivale, L. | Vivian, L, [Teller.] |
| Denham, L. | Milverton, L. | White, Bs. |
| Derwent, L. | Molson, L. | Windlesham, L. |
| Diamond, L. | Monckton of Brenchley, V. | Wolverton, L. |
| Donaldson of Kingsbridge, L. | Monsell, V. | Wootton of Abinger, Bs. |
| Douglass of Cleveland, L. | Mowbray and Stourton, L. | Wright of Ashton under Lyne, L |
| NOT-CONTENTS | ||
| Balerno, L. | Howard of Glossop, L. | Lauderdale, E. [Teller.] |
| Gainford, L. | Ingleby, V. [Teller.] | Strathelyde, L. |
§ second time. I think it would be in accordance with previous practice, and in order, if I were to deliver to your Lordships' House a long speech concerning all 28 New Towns of England, Scotland and Wales and their history since the end of the war. But the indications are that no other noble Lords wishes to speak in this debate. I shall therefore assume that
1059§ on this occasion the House will be content with the briefest possible exposition of the specific purposes of the Bill. But if noble Lords have questions for me about particular New Towns and their progress, I shall be happy to deal with them.
§ My Lords, the purpose of the Bill is to increase the amount of Exchequer money available for New Town development in Great Britain. The Development Corporations and the New Towns Commission are financed by means of Exchequer advances authorised by my right honourable friend the Secretary of State for the Environment for New Towns in England, and for New Towns in Scotland and Wales by the respective Secretaries of State. The total amount of money which may be advanced is limited by Statute. This limit has been raised by successive Acts of Parliament from the amount of £50 million set by the first New Towns Act, in 1946, to the figure at which it now stands of £1, 100 million, set by the last Act, which was in 1969. By March of this year, advances and commitments stood at £990 million. If advances and commitments continue at the present rate, the current limit will be reached at the beginning of the financial year 1972–73. It has become established practice for Parliament to authorise enough money to cover New Town development for about three years. With this in mind, the Bill which I now commend to your Lordships' House provides for an increase in the limit by £400 million to an overall figure of £1, 500 million. My Lords, I beg to move that this Bill be now read a second time.
§ Moved, That the Bill be now read 2ª—(Lord Sandford.)
§ On Question, Bill read 2ª;Committee negatived.