§ 3.37 p.m.
§ Order of the Day for the Second Reading read.
§ LORD WALKDENMy Lords, this Bill has been called a hardy annual, but strict botanists might claim that it is a hardy perennial, because it has been coming up in the Parish of Westminster for many years with great regularity every autumn! I do not propose to go into the ten enactments which are scheduled to this Bill. Most of them, except perhaps the first, the Wireless Telegraphy Act, 1904, have arisen from war circumstances. It is considered very desirable, however, that they should continue for another year. Those in Part I and Part III of the Schedule will be continued—if your Lordships agree—until December 31, 1948, and the enactment in Part II until March 31, 1949, which is the more appropriate date for that particular measure. I have had no notification of any inquiries about the continuation of any of these measures. We hope to take the Committee stage of the Bill on Thursday, and if any of your Lordships has points he would like to raise perhaps he will be kind enough to let me know, and we can clear them up then. I beg to move that this Bill be read a second time.
§ Moved, That the Bill be now read 2a.—(Lord Walkden.)
§ LORD LLEWELLINMy Lords, I do not think there is anything very controversial about this measure. As the noble Lord has said, it has flowered in Westminster for quite a number of years. Sometimes it has the same flowers on it, but sometimes they are slightly different. All I would say is that a number of us who are greatly concerned about food production in this country can only regret 569 that the Housing (Rural Workers) Act no longer finds a place in this Bill.
§ On Question, Bill read 2a, and committed to a Committee of the Whole House.