MR. DUNDAS WHITETo ask the Prime Minister, with reference to Consolidation Bills as presented in this House, 1477 whether originating here or in another place, and with a view to facilitating the examination of them, what steps, if any, will be taken to establish as a general practice that each such Bill shall have a table of corresponding sections showing where the sections of the earlier Acts are reproduced; that each section of such Bill shall have a marginal reference to the earlier section to which it corresponds; and that new matter and substantial alterations shall be distinguished by italics or underlining.
(Answered by Mr. Asquith.) The practice suggested in the Question as to the preparation of a table showing the mode in which, in a Consolidation Bill, the Acts consolidated are dealt with, and as to marginal references to the corresponding sections in the earlier Statutes, has been for some time followed in all Consolidation Bills prepared by the Government draftsman. The table is sometimes not circulated to the House with the Bill, but can always be circulated if required. The suggestion as to distinguishing, by italics or underlining, new matter and substantial alterations, even if new matter and substantial alterations were introduced in Consolidation Bills, would, from a practical point of view, be difficult to carry out satisfactorily. These and other points affecting the drafting of Bills will form the subject of inquiry by a Joint Committee which the Government have promised to set up.