HC Deb 25 July 1972 vol 841 c1776

Order for Second Reading read.

3.13 a.m.

The Solicitor-General (Sir Geoffrey Howe)

I beg to move, That the Bill be now read a Second time.

This is a pure consolidation Measure, consolidating all the provisions now on the Statute Book in relation to contracts of employment. It has been through all its stages in another place, without discussion. It was considered by the joint consolidation Committee, which approved it, without Amendment, on 21st June. On that basis, I commend it to the House.

Mr. S. C. Silkin (Dulwich)

The Bill consolidates the Contracts of Employment Act, 1963, part of the Redundancy Payments Act, 1965, and part of the Industrial Relations Act, 1971. In Schedule 3, we find that part of the Industrial Relations Act is repealed. However, before the House becomes too joyous at that news, one has to take account of the fact that it is brought into the compass of this Bill.

All one can say about that is that we approve the bringing into this Bill of some of the more innocuous provisions of the Industrial Relations Act, because it will make it that much easier for us to repeal that Act in its less innocuous provisions when the time shortly comes.

Question put and agreed to.

Bill accordingly read a Second time.

Bill committed to a Committee of the whole House.—[Mr. Gray.]

Committee this day.