§ Order for Second Reading read.
§ 9.36 p.m.
The Parliamentary Secretary to the Law Officers' Department (Mr. Arthur David son)I beg to move, That the Bill be now read a Second time.
This is a consolidation Bill. It consolidates most of the Northern Ireland (Emergency Provisions) Act 1973, as amended, together with the Northern Ireland (Young Persons) Act 1974 and several Statutory Instruments. Its provisions will have the same validity and the same requirement for renewal and will be subject to the same parliamentary procedures as the legislation that it will replace.
What the measure does is to set out the rights and responsibilities of the individual and the power and responsibility of the security forces in a more simple and understandable form. In view of the nature of the measures that are consolidated, I felt that I ought to make this clear to the House.
§ 9.37 p.m.
§ Mr. Daniel Awdry (Chippenham)I am grateful to the Parliamentary Secretary for those few words of explanation, as I am sure, is the House. It does not look as though there will be a very long debate on this measure. It is purely consolidation, and the Opposition welcome it
§ Question put and agreed to.
§ Bill accordingly read a Second time.
§ Bill committed to a Committee of the whole House.—[Mr. Tinn.]
§ Committee tomorrow.