HC Deb 09 July 1948 vol 453 cc792-3

Motion made, and Question proposed, "That this be the First Schedule to the Bill."

Mr. Boyd-Carpenter

I should like to express appreciation of the Schedule. When legislation is amended it is of the greatest convenience that a Schedule in this form should be included and the Amendments should be put in heavy type. I thank the Minister and express the hope that his colleagues will follow his example.

Question put, and agreed to.

Schedule agreed to.

Second and Third Schedules agreed to.

Bill reported, with an Amendment; as amended considered.

Motion made and Question proposed, "That the Bill be now read the Third time."—.[Mr. Isaacs.]

3.11 p.m.

Mr. Boyd-Carpenter

I want to raise one point in regard to this Bill. Hon. Members who have followed these proceedings are only too well aware that the Bill as it now stands is quite incomprehensible without reference to the principal Act of 1937. The only part which is comprehensible taken by itself is the First Schedule to which I have referred. The principal Act of 1937 was in part a consolidating Act, and, therefore, the effect of putting this Bill upon the statute book is to make the law on this subject less easy to find than it was. I rise, therefore, to express the hope that before very long it may be possible to bring forward further consolidating legislation. I do not want to labour the point. It is somewhat unsatisfactory to have a Bill which is incomprehensible, and I hope the process of marrying this Bill to the principal Act will be undertaken before very long.

The Attorney-General

I have the very greatest sympathy for the view expressed by the hon. Member for Kingston-upon-Thames (Mr. Boyd-Carpenter). It is a criticism which might be applied to many sections of our statute law in this country. I must not allow myself to embark upon a general discussion of the position of our statute law, which is indeed most deplorable. We are having careful regard to the possibility of consolidation not only in this but in other branches of the law. This is a time when, unfortunately, the Parliamentary draftsmen have to bear very heavy burdens of work, but as occasion permits we shall seek to prepare Measures of consolidation. We are certainly impressed with the great importance of trying to do that, and to simplify our statute law and make it a little more comprehensible to the ordinary people of the country than it is at present.

Mr. McCorquodale

I should not like this Bill to disappear without congratulating the Minister on the way he has carried it through and saying that the Bill, although small in itself, does something to uphold our reputation as being in the forefront in factory legislation and in the forefront especially in the quality and the skill of His Majesty's Inspectorate who carry out the instructions of this House. Therefore, I should like to say that this Bill and whatever comes out of it will have our full support.

Mr. Isaacs

Before the Bill finally leaves I should like to express appreciation to the Members of the House for their co-operation in this matter. Many valuable and useful points have been put forward which, while they could not be accepted as appropriate to this Bill, are matters worthy of consideration. Once again, one sees Parliament at its best when we join together to do something which is for the good of the community and when for the moment party political considerations are put aside.

Question put, and agreed to.

Bill accordingly read the Third time and passed, with an Amendment.