§ Order for Second Reading read.
11.20 pm§ The Solicitor-General (Sir Ian Percival)I beg to move, That the Bill be now read a Second time.
The Bill is a consolidation of a considerable body of law relating to the terms and conditions on which aid and assistance may be granted to overseas territories. It will replace 17 complete Acts of Parliament and parts of 12 others that will be repealed by the Bill. It will make a useful contribution to the tidying up of the statute book. We have the advantage here of having the assistance of the Joint Committee, which has certified in the usual way. Unless the House wishes me to deal with the Bill in any more detail, I shall content myself by commending it to the House.
§ Question put and agreed to.
§ Bill accordingly read a Second time.
§ Bill committed to a Committee of the whole House—[Lord James Douglas-Hamilton.]
§ Committee tomorrow.