§ The LORD CHANCELLOR (Lord Elwyn-Jones)My Lords, I beg to move that the House do now resolve itself into a Committee upon the Social Security Bill and the four Bills which follow it on the Order Paper. All these five Bills are consolidation Bills. They have been most carefully considered by the Joint Committee, to whom I should like to express my particular thanks, because they have represented an unusually heavy burden.
The Social Security Bill, the Social Security (Northern Ireland) Bill and the Social Security (Consequential Provisions) Bill have each been extensively amended by the Joint Committee. When these Bills are considered by another place, 474 further Amendments will be necessary to take account of certain relevant provisions of the Social Security Benefits Bill, which is expected to receive the Royal Assent later today.
§ Moved accordingly, and, on Question, Motion agreed to.
§ House in Committee: Clauses and Schedules agreed to.
§ House resumed: Bills reported without further Amendment; Reports received.
§ Then, Standing Order No. 44 having been suspended (pursuant to Resolution), Bills read 3a, and passed, and sent to the Commons.