London Docklands Development Corporation (Vesting of Land) (London Borough of Southwark) Order 1989 (Hansard, 1 March 1990)

§ The Chairman of Committees (Lord Aberdare)

My Lords, I beg to move the Motion standing in my name on the Order Paper.

834 Perhaps I should say a few words of explanation. The order referred to in the Motion vests in the London Docklands Development Corporation certain land currently vested in the London Borough of Southwark. The order is hybrid and a petition against it from the London Borough of Southwark was accordingly considered by the Hybrid Instruments Committee last July. The role of this committee is to report to the House whether or not there ought to be an inquiry by a Select Committee into the matters complained of in any petition.

Southwark's petition was based on the fact that it had itself applied for planning permission to develop a part of this land. Its application had been refused by the development corporation, which is the local planning authority for the area, and Southwark had appealed to the Secretary of State. The vesting order made by the Secretary of State would have pre-empted the public inquiry arising from this appeal.

That seemed to the Hybrid Instruments Committee to be a justifiable grievance. Accordingly it recommended that it should be considered by a Select Committee. The House agreed to that in November last year.

Since then, however, the public inquiry has been held and Southwark's appeal was dismissed. It would seem desirable therefore that the Hybrid Instruments Committee should now reconsider its recommendation in the light of the changed circumstances. If the House agrees to the Motion today, the parties will be invited to submit fresh representations to the committee if they so wish, and the committee will in due course make a further report to the House. I commend the Motion to the House.

Moved, That the orders of 9th and 15th November last be discharged and that the London Docklands Development Corporation (Vesting of Land) (London Borough of Southwark) Order 1989 be referred again to the Hybrid Instruments Committee.—(The Chairman of Committees.)