§ Motion made, and Question proposed, "That the Clause stand part of the Bill."
§ 10.10 p.m.
§ Mr. Stephen Swingler (Newcastle-under-Lyme)The Clause continues obsolescent Army and Air Force Acts in operation for a further 12 months. We have agreed not to put down any Amendments this year, so there will be no discussion on the Committee stage. However, I should like to ask the Secretary of State to tell us about the progress being made by the Select Committee which is considering the Acts and to give us an assurance that the situation which has occurred this year will not recur next year. Can the Secretary of State say when the reformed legislation can be produced?
§ The Secretary of State for War (Mr. Antony Head)The Select Committee which was set up by the House—it has been meeting very frequently and has published a number of interim Reports—has one object, and one object only, to produce an up-to-date and efficient Army and Air Force Act at the earliest possible date. Hon. Members on both sides of the Committee will agree that the Select Committee is attempting to discharge that task with an amount of co-operation which is giving me, at any rate, a matter of maximum satisfaction. It would be wrong for me, as I have nothing to do with the Committee, to make an exact forecast, but I can assure the hon. Gentleman that the Committee wholeheartedly desires to finish the task as quickly and as efficiently as it can. It would not be right for me to go beyond that.
§ Clause ordered to stand part of the Bill.
§ Preamble agreed to.
§ Bill reported, without Amendment; read the Third time, and passed.