§ 2.59 p.m.
§ THE LORD CHANCELLORMy Lords, I beg to move that this Bill be now read a second time. This is a Bill consolidating all or some of the Increase of Rent and Mortgage Interest (Restrictions) Act 1920, the Rent and Mortgage Interest Restrictions Act 1923, the Rent and Mortgage Interest Restrictions (Amendment) Act 1933, the Increase of Rent and Mortgage Interest (Restrictions) Act 1935, the Increase of Rent and Mortgage Interest (Restrictions) Act 1938, the Rent and Mortgage Interest Restrictions Act 1939, the Furnished Houses (Rent Control) Act 1946, the Agricultural Holdings Act 1948, the Landlord and Tenant (Rent Control) Act 1949, the Crown Lessees (Protection of Sub-Tenants) Act 1952, the Housing Repairs and Rents Act 1954, the Landlord and Tenant Act 1954, the Rent Act 1957, the Housing Act 1957, the Housing (Financial Provisions) Act 1958, the House Purchase and Housing Act 1959, the New Towns Act 1959, the Landlord and Tenant (Furniture and Fittings) Act 1959, the Housing Act 1961, the London Government Act 1963, the Housing Act 1964, the Rent Act 1965, the Agriculture Act 1012 1967, and the Leasehold Reform Act 1967.
My Lords, everything which increases the lawyer's time inevitably costs the client money, and this Bill, consolidating all the Rent Acts for 47 years, should be a boon and blessing to men. If your Lordships give it a Second Reading it will go in the usual way to the Joint Committee on Consolidation Bills. I beg to move.
§ Moved, That the Bill be now read 2a.—(The Lord Chancellor.)
§ On Question, Bill read 2a, and referred to the Joint Committee on Consolidation Bills.