§ The Under-Secretary of State for Scotland (Mr. Norman Buchan)I beg to move Amendment No. 1, in page 1, line 19, leave out 'any' and insert 'an'.
§ These Amendments are consequential on the Amendment accepted in Committee which deleted from Clause 2(1) the power to defer the appointed day, and in effect they confine the detailed provisions of the Bill relating to the variation of the appointed day by order, to orders advancing the appointed day.
§ All are drafting Amendments and the only ones of substance are the second and third. Those delete from Clause 2(2) the reference to the interval that must be allowed between the date on which an advancing or deferring Order is made and the day which such an order appoints, and re-state the reference to a period of one year as the minimum period that must elapse between the date on which an Order advancing the appointed day is made and the appointed day which it specifies.
§ Mr. Anthony Stodart (Edinburgh, West)I accept the proposition that these are all consequential upon the decision arrived at in Committee. We argued this matter with some vigour and we were defeated. I do not propose to traverse the ground again. Therefore, I am prepared to accept the argument that the hon. Gentleman has put forward.
§ Amendment agreed to.
§ Further Amendments made: No. 2, in page 1, leave out lines 21 and 22 and insert 'one year'.
§ No. 3, in page 2, leave out lines 1 and 2.
§ No. 4, in page 2, line 4, leave out 'orders' and insert 'an order'.
388§ No. 5, in page 2, line 6, leave out 'any such' and insert 'such an'.—[Mr. Buchan.]
§ Motion made, and Question, That the Bill be now read the Third time, put forthwith pursuant to Standing Order No. 55 (Third Reading), and agreed to.
§ Bill accordingly read the Third time, and passed.