§ Order of the Day for the Second Reading read.
§ THE LORD CHANCELLOR (VISCOUNT SIMON)My Lords, this Bill is to remedy a small but awkward omission which has been found in the Chartered and Other Bodies (Temporary Provisions) Act, 1939. Under Section 2 of that Act, in order to promote economy of working of bodies incorporated by Statute, Orders in Council may be made extending the term of office, and other conditions, of governors and others; similar objects can be effected under Section 1 of the Act if the body is constituted by Royal Charter. But there is a very limited number of bodies of this peculiarity, that they are created by Charter but have a portion of their constitution added by Act of Parliament; and it has been discovered that bodies of that sort, of which the Pharmaceutical Society is an example, are not covered by the previous Act. The object of this Bill is to remedy that omission. As your Lordships will see, it is an extremely minute and entirely uncontroversial proposal, and I move the second Reading of the Bill.
§ Moved, That the Bill be now read 2a.—(The Lord Chancellor.)
§ On Question, Bill read 2a, and committed to a Committee of the Whole House.