§ 2.47 p.m.
§ THE LORD CHANCELLORMy Lords, the Motion that stands in my name on the Order Paper proposes to add four more noble Lords to the Joint Committee on Consolidation Bills. I am extremely grateful to these four noble Lords for their willingness to serve on this important Committee. If the House passes this Motion, I hope that another place will quickly pass a similar Motion on their own account, so that these two Motions together will have the effect of reinforcing the Joint Committee with four more Members from each House, making a total of twelve from each House.
This reinforcement is necessary because of the number of Consolidation Bills which are now coming forward. Thirteen such Bills have already been introduced, and I am hoping to introduce one more at an early date. Most of these Bills, if not all, started under the previous Administration, and of course I gratefully acknowledge their initiative in the matter. There is no hope of getting all these Bills through before the end of July unless the Joint Committee can sit more frequently than it is doing at present. It is already making considerable and, I might almost say, unreasonable demands upon the time of the noble and learned Chairman, Lord Morris of Borth-y-Gest, to whom the House is greatly indebted for all the care and expertise that he brings to hear upon this highly technical subject.
So far as the members of the Committee are concerned it is sometimes difficult, especially in view of the state of 1098 business in another place, to achieve the necessary quorum of members, which is three from each House. The additional membership which I am now proposing to your Lordships should ease the strain, both for the Chairman and for the present members of the Committee, and will enable us, I hope, to achieve our objective, which we may otherwise fail to obtain. I beg to move.
§ Moved, That the following Lords be added to the Joint Committee on Consolidation Bills.
- L. Douglas of Barloch,
- L. Alport,
- L. Wilberforce,
- L. St. Helens.
§ —(The Lord Chancellor.)
§ VISCOUNT DILHORNEMy Lords, I should like to thank the noble Lord for explaining what lies behind this Motion, and to say that we welcome it. I know that the Committee has a very great deal of work to do—work which often appears dull but is none the less extremely important. I am sure that the strengthening of this Committee by the addition of more members will indeed be helpful. There are a great many Bills ready for its consideration now, which were started, as the noble and learned Lord said, a considerable time ago, and no doubt the flow will be kept up in the future.
§ On Question, Motion agreed to.