§ Order of the Day for the Second Reading read.
§ THE LORD CHANCELLOR (VISCOUNT SIMON)My Lords, I beg to move the Second Reading of this Bill and I can do so sufficiently, I think, in a couple of sentences. The object of the Bill is to renew for this financial year the borrowing powers originally conferred on the Treasury by the National Loans Act, 1939, and last renewed for the year 1942–3 by the National Loans Act, 1942. The Bill is a matter of some urgency.
§ Moved, That the Bill be now read 2.—(The Lord Chancellor.)
§ On Question, Bill read 2, and committed to a Committee of the Whole House.