HC Deb 11 March 1975 vol 888 cc459-60

Order for Second Reading read.

The Parliamentary Secretary, Law Officers' Department (Mr. Arthur Davidson)

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

This Bill is a straightforward, non-controversial measure which consolidates the outstanding provisions of the Ministry of Supply Act 1939 and the enactments and instruments amending those provisions with the amendments which give effect to the recommendations in the reports of the Law Commission and the Scottish Law Commission.

I am sure that the House would wish to pay a tribute once again to both Law Commissions for the painstaking work that they have done in preparing this and other consolidation measures which help to simplify the law and make the statute books a little less forbidding.

This measure has been through the other place without amendment, having been introduced there by the Lord Chancellor, and it has also been scrutinised by the Joint Committee on Consolidation Bills. I pay tribute to the Joint Committee. The work that it does is hardly glamorous, it is very hard. and. as the hon. Members for Chippenham (Mr. Awdry) and Orpington (Mr. Stanbrook) know well, being members of it, it seldom gets the headlines. The House would probably like to show its appreciation of the Committee and its chairman, Lord Simon of Glaisdale.

Mr. Daniel Awdry (Chippenham)

I thank the Parliamentary Secretary for moving the Second Reading briefly and concisely. His kind remarks about the Joint Select Committee on Consolidation Bills will be much appreciated by the Committee. Those of us who serve on it are grateful for the wise guidance we receive from the chairman, and I pay my tribute to his patience and understanding. This Bill will be a useful consolidation measure, and we welcome it.

Question put and agreed to.

Bill accordingly read a Second time.

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

Bill immediately considered in Committee.

[Mr. OSCAR MURTON in the Chair]

Clauses 1 to 8 ordered to stand part or the Bill.

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