§ The Solicitor-General (Sir Ian Percival)I beg to move amendment No. 25, in page 25, line 39, leave out subsection (4) and insert—
'(4) The Minister or a local highway authority may provide and maintain new road-ferries.'.
The First Deputy ChairmanWith this it will be convenient to discuss the following Government amendments: Nos. 26 to 32, Nos. 34 to 45, Nos. 47 to 52, Nos. 55 to 60, and Nos. 62 to 66.
The Solicitor-General: Because I know that the House of Commons is anxious to move to the next business, and because I can in this case assure the Committee that the need for all these amendments is clear and simple, I shall be very brief. It would, however, be remiss if I did not pause for a moment to wish the hon. and learned Member for Abertillery (Mr. Thomas), who leads for the Opposition on this Bill, a very happy birthday. I hope not to keep him from the celebrations for very long.
The amendments in this group all incorporate into the Bill amendments made in another place to the Local Government, Planning and Land (No. 2) Bill, which relate to the highways legislation being consolidated into this Bill. It follows from the acceptance of those amendments in the House of Commons yesterday that in order to ensure that this Bill is now right as a consolidation measure and will represent the existing state of the law when it comes into force, these amendments must be made.
§ Amendment agreed to.
496§ Clause 24, as amended, ordered to stand part of the Bill.
§ Clause 25 ordered to stand part of the Bill.