§ 3.30 p.m.
§ THE MINISTER OF STATE, SCOTTISH OFFICE (LORD POLWARTH)My Lords, this Bill is a consolidation of the Scottish Planning Acts. Planning legislation in Scotland is long overdue for consolidation. The present provisions are dispersed between the Acts of 1945, 1947, 1954, 1959 and 1969. In addition, there are related provisions in a number of other Acts. This has caused increasing difficulty in recent years to those whose duties involve reference to or the administration of these Acts in Scotland, and there has been a growing demand for consolidation. We have not failed to notice in Scotland that the corresponding English legislation has been consolidated twice in the meantime.
As is customary in these circumstances, effect has been given in the consolidation to certain recommendations by the Scottish Law Commission. In this case the recommendations are few in number and technical in character. They are described in Command Paper No. 4949 which was presented on April 18. If the House gives this Bill a Second Reading it will be referred to the Joint Committee on Consolidation Bills, who will consider it with their usual thoroughness and make their report to the House in due course. There is no doubt that this is 473 a valuable and indeed overdue tidying up of a very important body of legislation, which will be welcomed by all concerned. I beg to move that the Bill be read a second time.
§ Moved, That the Bill be now read 2a. —(Lord Polwarth.)
§ LORD HUGHESMy Lords all I need to do is to echo the last words of the noble Lord, that this consolidation will be welcomed by all concerned.
§ On Question, Bill read 2a, and referred to the Joint Committee on Consolidation Bills.