§ 6.33 p.m.
§ LORD BESWICKMy Lords, I beg to move that the Eggs (Protection of Guarantees) Order 1969, a copy of which was laid before this House on February 20, 1969 be approved. The reason for making the 1969 Order is a technical matter: it is to clarify the provisions of Article 7 of the 1968 Order, and the new Order makes no other changes in the provisions of the 1968 Order except for small drafting amendments in Articles 4 and 5.
Article 7 of the 1968 Order enabled an authorised officer to require any person engaged in certain types of egg business to produce on demand books, accounts and records relating to the purchase and sale of eggs. It was pointed out by the Select Committee on Statutory Instruments of another place that Article 7 of the 1968 Order as drafted did not say explicitly that the books, accounts and records to be produced should be those which were in a person's possession and control. I am told that, in practice, the only records which authorised officers would ask for are those in the possession or control of the person to whom the demand was addressed. Nevertheless, it was felt that possible doubt should be removed. This Order does just that.
Articles 4 and 5 of the 1969 Order also show small drafting amendments. In Article 4 the opportunity has been taken to put in slightly more elegant words to 407 meet a point made by, I understand, a Member of this House when the 1968 Order was before the Special Orders Committee. My Lords, I hope you will agree that we need not discuss the other provisions of the 1969 Order, since they are the same as those in the 1968 Order which we debated very recently in this House. I beg to move.
§ Moved, That the Eggs (Protection of Guarantees) Order 1969 laid before the House on February 20 last be approved.—(Lord Beswick.)