§ 7.40 p.m.
§ The Minister of State, Scottish Office (Lord Gray of Contin) rose to move, That the order laid before the House on 13th March be approved.
§ The noble Lord said: My Lords, it is normal for the Order Paper to record that an order such as this has been reported on by the Joint Committee on Statutory Instruments. In this case, it was not possible for the order to be reported on until this afternoon, but I am able to tell your Lordships that it has been reported to the Joint Committee of both Houses. I beg to move that the Local Authority Grants (Termination) (Scotland) Order 1986 which was laid before the House on 13th March be approved.
§ This order is made under Section 15(1), (2) and (3) of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1975 and is laid before both Houses under Section 15(4) of that Act. Article 2 of the order terminates, with effect from 1st April 1986, the power to make any new payments of three specific grants. Those are grants for planning redevelopment, town development and rural sewerage. Article 3 provides for the repeal of the statutory provisions specified in Schedule 1 to the order, and Schedule 2 sets out the subordinate legislation which is revoked.
§ The making of this order follows a review of specific grants undertaken by the Secretary of State in consultation with the Convention of Scottish local Authorities. As a result of this review, the Secretary of State decided to terminate the three specific grants covered by this order. I beg to move.
§ Moved, That the order laid before the House on 13th March be approved.—(Lord Gray of Contin.)
§ On Question, Motion agreed to.