I move amendment No. 1:—
In page 2, line 18, to delete the word "class" and substitute the word "section".
Section 2 of this Bill provides that a local authority may adopt schemes for certain purposes set out in the Bill. It goes on to speak of schemes for civic improvement. When we refer to Section 1, we find that the expression "civic improvement" includes "anything which tends to improve the amenities of the functional area of the local authority concerned or is otherwise conducive to the welfare of the inhabitants or any class of the inhabitants of that functional area". This word "class" has arisen in connection with other legislation and has, I think, been the subject matter of an action in the courts quite recently. Those with whom I discussed the expression, including some lawyers, say that the word "class" presents tremendous difficulties and that it is an exceptionally unsuitable word to use in legislation of this kind. One wonders what is meant by "any class of the inhabitants". Does the phrase mean the working class, the employing class, the farming class, or what does it mean? If the word "section" were substituted for the word "class", it would be far more satisfactory and the purpose of my amendment is to insert the word "section" in substitution for the word "class".