HC Deb 28 February 1967 vol 742 cc413-4

Question proposed, That the Clause stand part of the Bill.

Mr. Graham Page

This Clause states that the Minister may direct any inquiry to be held by his inspectors, which he might have directed to be held under Section 61(1) of the Rating and Valuation Act 1925, as if this consolidation Measure had not been passed. I am sure that I am not alone in being biased against obliging the reader of a Consolidation Act to refer back to a Statute repealed by that Act.

Clause 110 refers us to a Section in the Rating and Valuation Act, 1925, which, when we turn to Schedule 14 of the consolidation Measure, we find is to be repealed by this Measure. The Clause deals with the Minister's powers to direct inquiries—such inquiries as might have been held under a repealed Statute. Under those circumstances, I would have thought that this Clause would have been best left out of the Bill altogether.

I am not pleading even for an Amendment, I am pleading that the Clause be left out, as being a wrong statement of the law. According to your Ruling, Sir Eric, I can go no further than to say that. The Clause is asking the reader of a consolidation Measure to refer back, perhaps many years hence to a repealed Statute which will not be printed in the Statute Book, which will not be printed by Her Majesty's Stationery Office and which it will be most difficult for anyone to rind in future years. This Clause should be left out of the Bill altogether.

Question put and agreed to.

Clause ordered to stand part of the Bill.

The Chairman

With the consent of the Committee I propose that Clauses 111 to 116 be taken together.

Clauses 111 to 116 ordered to stand part of the Bill.