§ 3.23 p.m.
THE LORD CHANCELLOR (LORD HAILSHANI OF ST. MARYLEBONE)My Lords, I rise to move that the Order of Recommitment be discharged. I think this is an operation of the new Standing Order, and therefore, before the House decides to discharge the Order of Recommitment, if it pleases the House to agree with my Motion, I should inform your Lordships that this is a Consolidation Bill with Law Commission Amendments, and as such falls within the fourth category of Bills referred to the Joint Committee on Consolidation Bills. In so far as the Bill is not pure consolidation but gives effect to recommendations by the Law Commissions, it can be discussed by the House and in Committee of the Whole House, but in this case the Joint Committee are of the opinion that the recommendations of the Law Commissions are for the purpose of producing a satisfactory consolidation of the law, and they approve the recommendations without amendment. The Joint Committee further state in their Report that in their opinion there is no point to which the attention of Parliament ought to be drawn.
This Bill has been amended by the Joint Committee on Consolidation Bills. I understand that no further Amendments have been set down to the Bill and that 177 no noble Lord has indicated a wish to move a manuscript Amendment or to speak in Committee on recommitment. Therefore, unless any noble Lord objects, I beg to move, pursuant to Standing Order No. 43(2), that the Order of Recommitment be discharged.
§ Moved, That the Order of Recommitment be discharged.—(The Lord Chancellor.)
§ LORD GARDINERMy Lords, I have read the proceedings before the Joint Consolidation Committee, and we would respectfully agree that the Order of Recommitment should be discharged for the reasons given by the noble and learned Lord.
§ On Question, Motion agreed to.