§ Order for Second Reading read.
10.47 pm§ The Solicitor-General (Sir Ian Percival)I beg to move, That the Bill be now read a Second time.
This Bill is also purely a consolidation measure. The law on pilotage was last consolidated in 1913 and has remained substantially unamended until 1979. The Merchant Shipping Act 1979 amended it extensively and introduced new provisions. This is a suitable time for consolidation. Some provisions in the 1979 Act are not yet in force. They are included in this Bill in the usual way and when the appropriate commencement orders are made they will come into force in substitution for the provisions in the existing law also included in the Bill.
The Bill has been considered by the Joint Committee, to which we owe a great debt. Because the law has altered slightly since the Bill was considered in another place, it will be necessary for further amendments to be moved in Committee to catch up with developments.
§ Mr. Arthur Davidson (Accrington)I could not let this occasion pass without congratulating the Solicitor-General on creating something of a mini-record in moving three Second Readings so concisely and informatively in precisely three minutes. I am satisfied that the Bills are consolidation measures and we await heated and lengthy debates on the amendments.
§ Question put and agreed to.
§ Bill accordingly read a Second time.
§ Bill committed to a Committee of the Whole House.—[Mr. Douglas Hogg.]
§ Committee tomorrow.