§ 6.22 p.m.
§ LORD BESWICKMy Lords, I beg leave to introduce a Bill to amend Sections 1 and 2 of the Commonwealth Immigrants Act 1962, and Schedule 1 to that Act, and to make further provision as to Commonwealth citizens landing in the United. Kingdom, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man; and for purposes connected with the matters afore-said. I beg to move that this Bill be now read a first time.
My Lords, I think that it may be for the convenience of the House if I say a few words in explanation of why this Bill has been introduced into your Lordships' House. As noble Lords are aware, we are hoping to receive the Commonwealth Immigrants Bill from another place on Wednesday evening. Certain noble Lords have already notified their intention to put down Amendments on the Committee stage of the Bill, in the event of this taking place on Thursday. At the moment there is, of course, no Bill before your Lordships to which such Amendments can be attached. After 771 discussion through the usual channels, it was felt that it would be for the convenience of the whole House if we brought a "No. 2" Bill into this House so that Amendments might be circulated to a Bill. I should stress that this is not the same as the "White Bill" procedure which was followed in 1966 and 1967, on the Prices and Incomes Bill, but it is a means of ensuring that the House has before it a Bill to which Amendments can be attached. In the event of the Commonwealth Immigrants Bill being received on Wednesday or Thursday, our "No. 2" Bill could then be laid aside and we should proceed on the House of Commons Bill. I hope that this procedure will meet with the approval of the 772 House, for whose convenience it has been designed.
§ Moved, That the Bill be now read 1a,—(Lord Beswick.)
§ On Question, Bill read 1a, and to be printed.