§ Order for Second Reading read.
§ 12.17 a.m.
§ The Parliamentary Secretary to the Law Officers' Department (Mr. Arthur Davidson)I beg to move, That the Bill be now read a Second time.
This is the first of four consolidation Bills which will be introduced to the House tonight. It consolidates measures dealing with disqualification from membership of the House of Commons and in particular it consolidates the main Act, the House of Commons Disqualification Act 1957.
It is a consolidation Bill purely and simply. It has been through the Joint Committee, which made certain amendments which have been incorporated in the Bill. The Joint Committee has certified that the Bill with the amendments is purely consolidation, and I assure the House that it represents the existing law.
I should like to express the appreciation of the House to the Joint Committee and to its Chairman, Lord Simon of Glaisdale, for once again producing a simple measure which will assist in making the statutes easier to read.
§ 12.19 a.m.
§ Mr. Teddy Taylor (Glasgow, Cathcart)I have studied the Bill and support wholeheartedly this consolidation measure, which we welcome.
§ Question put and agreed to.
§ Bill accordingly read a Second time.
§ Bill committed to a Committee of the whole House.—[Mr. James Hamilton.]
1197§ Bill immediately considered in Committee.
§ [Sir MYER GALPERN in the Chair]
§ Clauses 1 to 11 ordered to stand part of the Bill.