§ 2.55 p.m.
§ Order of the Day for the Third Reading read.
§ THE LORD CHANCELLOR (LORD GARDINER)My Lords, I beg to move that this Bill be now read a third time. Your Lordships may remember that this is a Bill consolidating the whole of our Statute Law in the field of rating and valuation going back some 366 years. It repeals, in whole or in part, 35 existing Acts (13 of them wholly), and it will, I am sure, be of great assistance to all those concerned with the law in this field. We are particularly grateful to the Joint Committee on Consolidation Bills for having dealt with this Bill so expeditiously. If all goes well, the Bill should be in force by April 1, which is much the most convenient time of the year in this field of the law. I beg to move.
§ Moved. That the Bill be now read 3a,—(The Lord Chancellor.)
§ On Question, Bill read 3a, and passed, and sent to the Commons.