§ Order for Second Reading read.
§ Motion made, and Question proposed, "That the Bill be now read a Second time."—[The Attorney-General.]
§ 2.20 p.m.
§ Mr. Manningham-Buller (Daventry)This is a very modern consolidation Bill because the first Act which is brought into consolidation is one of 1939. We are now getting up to date when we consolidate Acts of Parliament, the first of which was in 1939 and the last of which was in 1949.—[Interruption.] It is not a question of this Government getting things done; it is a question of the committee which has been working on this matter and the effect of the Consolidation Enactments Act. I want again to emphasise how much I think their work is worth and how valuable it is. I would not like to pass from this important Bill without again drawing attention to the fact that it does not contain anything dealing with inquiries as a result of what happened earlier.
§ 2.21 p.m.
§ The Attorney-General (Sir Hartley Shawcross)I would point out that the Bill deals with the law as it exists and cannot include major amendments of the law. I only observe that while it deals with comparatively modern statutes, starting with one passed in 1939, by which the then Tory Government nationalised civil aviation, it is useful to have this 2299 law in a single statute. I agree with the hon. and learned Member for Daven-try (Mr. Manningham-Buller) on the great value of the work of consolidation that is at present being done. The state of our statute law and the number of statutes still operating at least in part on the Statute Book is, as I have often said, a perfect scandal, and it is very useful that we should, first of all, reduce the number by consolidation and then proceed, so far as we are able in particular branches of the law, with the much more important and much more difficult task of codification.
§ Motion made, and Question proposed, "That this House do now adjourn."—[Mr. R. Adams.]