§ House again in Committee.
§ LORD MANCROFTThis is another machinery Amendment connected with the future of the Commission. No policy point is concerned, and I do not think there is any controversy in it. I beg to move.
§
Amendment moved—
Page 25, line 34, leave out ("on") and insert ("at the expiration of the period of one month beginning with the date of").—(Lord Mancroft.)
§ On Question, Amendment agreed to.
§ LORD MANCROFTThis is the same sort of Amendment; it is purely machinery. I beg to move.
§
Amendment moved—
Page 25, line 37, at beginning insert ("The power of the Board of Trade to give directions under subsection (3) of this section in respect of a reference made before the commencement of this Act shall include power to require the Commission to proceed with the reference as if it had been made after the commencement of this Act; and").—(Lord Mancroft.)
§ On Question, Amendment agreed to.
§ Clause 27, as amended, agreed to.
§ Clause 28 agreed to.
§ Clause 29 [Provisions relating to export agreements]:
§ LORD MANCROFTThis is purely a drafting Amendment. I beg to move.
§
Amendment moved—
Page 27, line 14, leave out ("eight").—(Lord Mancroft.)
§ On Question, Amendment agreed to.
§ Clause 29, as amended, agreed to.
§ Clauses 30 to 33 agreed to.
§ Clause 34 [Interpretation]:
§ LORD MANCROFTThis also is a drafting Amendment. I beg to move.
§
Amendment moved—
Page 29, line 30, leave out from first ("Registrar") to end of line 30 and insert ("has the meaning assigned by section one").—(Lord Mancroft.)
§ On Question, Amendment agreed to.
§ Clause 34, as amended, agreed to.
§ Clause 35 agreed to.
1033§ Clause 36 [Short title and commencement]:
§ LORD MANCROFT moved to leave out subsection (2). The noble Lord said: This last Amendment, although uncontroversial, is a matter of sonic importance. It removes the provision in the Bill that the Act shall come into force one month after the date on which it is passed. It will therefore come into force immediately on enactment, subject to the two qualifications which have been made in Amendments we have recently been discussing on Clauses 25 and 27. As a result of these Amendments, Part II of the Bill will not come into force until three months after the passing of the Act and references at present with the Monopolies Commission will not lapse until one month after the commencement of the Act.
§ As regards the rest of the Bill, no delay is necessary before it comes into force, because it contains no provisions to which people must adapt themselves in order to keep within the law. The Committee will note that subsection (1) of Clause 8, relating to registration of agreements, and Clause 26, relating to the reconstitution of the Monopolies Commission, come into force only under statutory instruments. I hope that the abolition of the one month's delay will mean that the first registration order can be made aid laid before Parliament rises for the Summer Recess. It is very unlikely that it will be possible for it to be confirmed by Parliament, and therefore for it to come into operation, before the Session is resumed after the Recess, but its publication well in advance of its coming into effect will, I hope, be a useful guide to industry. It will also provide jolly reading for the noble Viscount, Lord Alexander of Hillsborough, on his holidays, some part of which I am sorry to learn he may have to spend in hospital, from which we all wish him a speedy and completely successful return.
§ On Question, Amendment agreed to.
§ Remaining clause, as amended, agreed to.
§ Schedule agreed to.
§ House resumed.