§ Order for Second Reading read
10.43 pm§ The Solicitor-General (Sir Ian Percival)I beg to move, That the Bill be now read a Second time.
This is another consolidation measure, which no doubt will raise equally interesting questions, though I hope questions of a little more substance than those that we have just had.
The Bill consolidates almost all the provisions of the Sale of Goods Act 1893, as amended, so as to bring statute law on this important topic into one enactment. It is pure consolidation and makes no changes in the existing law.
The Bill has, of course, been examined by the Joint Committee. In this case, the Committee, in its first report to both Houses on 11 July 1979, made three amendments to bring the Bill into conformity with existing law, and one amendment to improve the form of the Bill. None of the amendments effects any change in the law.
The Committee reported that it was of the opinion that the Bill, as amended, was pure consolidation and that there was no point to which the attention of Parliament should be drawn.
The Bill deals with matters of great importance in the commercial world. It is to come into force on 1 January 1980, and it is therefore desirable that the Bill 1446 be passed as soon as possible so as to give people time to acquaint themselves with it. Accordingly, I hope that the Bill will be given a fair wind.
§ Question put and agreed to.
§ Bill accordingly read a Second Time
§ Bill committed to a Committee of the whole House.—[Mr. MacGregor.]
§ Bill immediately considered in Committee; reported, without amendment.
§ Motion made, and Question, That the Bill be now read the Third Time, put forthwith pursuant to Standing Order No. 56 (Third Reading) and agreed to.
§ Bill accordingly read the Third time and passed without amendment.