HC Deb 27 November 1912 vol 44 cc1296-7W
Viscount WOLMER

asked the President of the Local Government Board if his attention has been called to the fact that on the 12th January, 1911, the Hampstead Borough Council made, under the Housing, Town Planning, etc., Act, 1909, a closing order against Mr. William Arlidge in respect of No. 83, Palmerston Road, Hampstead, N. W., and that arising thereout there have since been appeals and two local public inquiries; whether he is aware that a further appeal made in the matter, on the 28th May last, has not yet been dealt with by the Board; and whether, having regard to the delays and difficulties which the proceedings disclose, he will consider the advisability of amending the appeal provisions of the Act?

Mr. BURNS

I am fully aware of the facts in the case referred to, but I do not think that they suggest the need for any serious amendment of the appeal provisions of the Housing, Town Planning, etc., Act, 1909.

Viscount WOLMER

also asked the President of the Local Government Board whether his attention has been called to the fact that, on the 18th April last, the Divisional Court granted Mr. William Arlidge an order nisi directing the Local Government Board to show cause why an order made on the 26th February, 1912, in connection with the proceedings relating to the closing order in respect of No. 83, Palmerston Road, Hampstead, should not be quashed, on the ground that such order was made without giving the appellant an opportunity of being heard by the President or other authorised person who actually made the order, whether he is aware that, although the Motion was set down for hearing on the 23rd April last, it has not yet been heard, notwithstanding the fact that the case has in the interval been reached and passed over; and whether he can say who is responsible for the delay in preventing the rule nisi being brought on for argument?

Mr. BURNS

I am aware that the Motion has not yet been heard, and I am anxious that it should be heard without any unnecessary delay. As the Noble Lord knows, the Law Officers have been very much pressed with other urgent work, but I hope that it will be found possible to get the case heard during the present sittings.