HL Deb 29 June 1972 vol 332 cc990-1

3.25 p.m.

THE MINISTER OF STATE, SCOTTISH OFFICE (LORD POLWARTH)

My Lords, I beg to move that the House do now resolve itself into Committee on Recommitment of this Bill.

Moved, That the House do now resolve itself into Committee.—(Lord Polwarth.)

On Question, Motion agreed to.

House in Committee accordingly.

[The EARL OF LISTOWEL in the Chair.]

THE CHAIRMAN OF COMMITTEES (THE EARL OF LISTOWEL)

This Bill has been amended by the Joint Committee on Consolidation Bills. I understand that no further Amendments have been put down for consideration this afternoon. With the agreement of the Committee I will, therefore, now put the Question, That I report the Bill to the House without further amendment?

LORD SHACKLETON

My Lords, may I ask why we have this procedure? Do we normally have this procedure on recommitment? Could not the Order have been discharged? Perhaps it cannot; I do not know.

THE MINISTER OF STATE, DEPARTMENT or HEALTH AND SOCIAL SECURITY (LORD ABERDARE)

My Lords, I will go into this matter, but I imagine that this procedure was adopted because there were Amendments made by the Committee on Consolidation Bills.

LORD SHACKLETON

My Lords, my point was that we have another procedure on Public Bills whereby we do not go into Committee if no Amendments are tabled. I am sure the Lord Chairman, as always, is right; but I think that it is a point that we might look into at some time. I realise that he perhaps had to re-commit the Bill.

THE EARL OF LISTOWEL

My Lords, I am obliged to the Leader of the Opposition for drawing this matter to my attention. I will discuss it with the noble Lord in charge of the Bill and provide him with the answer to the question about procedure.

House resumed.

THE EARL OF LISTOWEL

My Lords, the Committee of the Whole House to whom was committed the Town and Country (Scotland) Bill have gone through the same and direct me to report it to your Lordships without further amendment.

LORD POLWARTH

My Lords, I beg to move that this Report be now received.

Moved, That the report be now received.—(Lord Polwarth.)

LORD HUGHES

My Lords, I have not the slightest objection to this course. But the ordinary procedure makes one wonder what people outside will think when the Lord Chairman says that "the Committee of the Whole House have gone through" the Bill "and direct me to report it … without … amendment." To say that the Committee "have gone through" it is rather stretching things.

On Question, Motion agreed to: Report received accordingly.