§ Order of the Day for the Second Reading read.
§ Moved, That the Bill be now read 2a.—(The Lord Chancellor.)
§ EARL JOWITTMy Lords, may I take this opportunity of saying that I cordially agree that the Bill should be read a second time. I congratulate 1196 the noble Lord on the Woolsack for the very convenient way in which this matter is presented for our consideration in the White Paper, so that we can see at a glance what is proposed to be done, by setting out all the small Amendments which are authorised, as it seems to me, under the Consolidation of Enactments (Procedure) Act, 1949. Without that Act it would not have been possible to do what is now contemplated.
May I just record the fact that that Act was entirely the work of Sir Granville Ram, whose loss we all mourn, and it is a useful indication of the extreme value of the work which that eminent gentleman did that we are able, thanks to his labours in drafting that Act, to introduce this comprehensive measure in the form which the Lord Chancellor proposes.
THE LORD CHANCELLORI am grateful to the noble and learned Earl for what he has said, and would join with him in recording the thanks which we all owe to Sir Granville Ram and the great loss that we have suffered by his untimely death.
§ On Question, Bill read 2a, and referred to the Joint Committee on Consolidation Bills.