§ 3.1 p.m.
§ Order of the Day for the Second Reading read.
§ THE LORD CHANCELLOR (VISCOUNT KILMUIR)My Lords, I beg to move that this Consolidation Bill be now read a second time.
§ Moved, That the Bill be now read 2a.—(The Lord Chancellor.)
§ LORD SILKINMy Lords, I do not want to say anything about this Bill, especially as I have not seen it; but I should like to ask the noble and learned Viscount a question. I gather from the Press that this is a little more than a Consolidation Bill, and that it does, in fact, make certain amendments to the law on building societies. If the Press are mistaken about it, I have nothing more to say. But if there is any foundation at all for that statement, I should be grateful if the noble and learned Viscount could tell us, in a few words, what are the amendments which this Consolidation Bill proposes to make to building society law.
§ THE LORD CHANCELLORMy Lords, I understood (I am speaking from memory) that they are only the sort of minor amendments that are made under the Act of 1949, which follow the usual practice in Consolidation Bills. I cannot be precise about that. But perhaps the noble Lord will allow me to check that and to write to him about it. Then he can, if necessary, raise the matter again.
§ On Question, Bill read 2a, and referred to the Joint Committee on Consolidation Bills.