HC Deb 08 June 1964 vol 696 cc194-5

Lords Amendment: In page 31, line 41, at end insert: (4) The Secretary of State may by order repeal or amend any provision in any local Act, including an Act confirming a provisional order, or in any instrument in the nature of a local enactment under any Act, where it appears to him that that provision is inconsistent with, or has become unnecessary or requires modification in consequence of, any provision of this Act or corresponds to any provision repealed by this Act; and any statutory instrument made under this subsection shall be subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament.

Mr. Brooke

I beg to move, That this House doth agree with the Lords in the said Amendment.

This new subsection is designed to give the Secretary of State a general power to repeal and amend local Acts in consequence of the provisions of this Bill.

As the House will appreciate, much of the existing law about police administration was laid down somewhat sketchily in nineteenth century statutes which are repealed by Section 10 of the Bill. From time to time, not unnaturally, these general provisions of the last century were filled out by the provisions of local Acts which may now be unnecessary or need modification if the Bill becomes law.

It is desirable that there should be power in the Secretary of State to carry out this tidying-up operation. I would like to give an assurance that the local authority which promoted the local Act will in all cases be consulted before the Secretary of State makes an Order under this new power.

Question put and agreed to.

Subsequent Lords Amendments agreed to.