HL Deb 01 July 1993 vol 547 cc943-4

4.7 p.m.

Lord Morris

My Lords, on behalf of my noble friend Lord Finsberg, and with his fiat, I beg to move that this Bill be now read a third time.

Moved, That the Bill be now read a third time.—(Lord Morris.)

On Question, Bill read a third time.

Clause 1 [Power of delegation]:

Lord Morris moved the amendment: Page I, line 5, leave out from ("1981") to ("there") in line 6 and insert ("(which makes provision as to the Commission for the New Towns)—

  1. (a) in paragraph 5(2) (quorum etc. of committees)—
    1. (i) for "committee set up under paragraph 3 above" there shall be substituted "committee or sub-committee of the Commission", and
    2. (ii) after "the committee" in each place there shall be inserted "or sub-committee",
  2. (b) in paragraph 5(3) (validity of proceedings) for "such a committee" there shall be substituted "a committee or sub-committee of the Commission", and
  3. (c)").

The noble Lord said: My Lords, it may be of help to the House if I quickly explain the purposes of the amendment. The first part of the amendment is purely a matter of clarification. On the substitution of the words in brackets in lines 5 and 6 it will be made more obvious on the face of the Bill that the provisions proposed relate to the Commission for the New Towns. The second part of the amendment deals with an omission in the Bill. Paragraph 5 of the existing schedule to the New Towns Act 1981 provides that the. validity of any proceedings of the commission shall not be affected by any vacancy among its numbers or any defect in the appointment of its members. This is a usual provision relating to statutory bodies and its. scope will be extended to any committees or sub-committees of the commission. Again, it follows the precedent of the Leasehold Reform, Housing and Urban Development Bill on arrangements for the Urban Regeneration Agency.

It should be explained that the existing wording of paragraph 5 also relates to, "such a committee". The committees referred to are town committees set up under paragraph 3, of which there is only one. This deals with the housing management matters at Basildon. Paragraph 3 committees are there for particular purposes and do not enable the commission to make the delegation that it now seeks. It would be useful for the House to know that this amendment has been requested by the Government. I most warmly commend the two changes to the Bill to your Lordships. I beg to move.

Viscount Goschen

My Lords, the amendment is of a purely technical nature but is essential to ensure that the Bill will actually enable the commission to achieve the purpose for which it has been designed. The Government therefore support the amendment.

On Question, amendment agreed to.

Lord Morris

My Lords, I beg to move that the Bill do now pass.

Moved, That the Bill do now pass.—(Lord Morris.)

On Question, Bill passed, and sent to the Commons.

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