HL Deb 24 June 1976 vol 372 cc433-6

3.20 p.m.

The LORD CHANCELLOR (Lord Elwyn-Jones)

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

Moved, that the House do now resolve itself into Committee on Recommitment—(The Lord Chancellor.)

On Question, Motion agreed to.

House in Committee accordingly.

[The BARONESS TWEEDSMUIR OF BELHELVIE in the Chair.]

Clauses 1 to 19 agreed to.

Clause 20 [Interpretation of Part III]:

The LORD CHANCELLOR moved Amendment No. 1:

Page 23, line 27, after (" but ") insert (" , with those exceptions, ").

The noble and learned Lord said : This Amendment will correct a minor omission. On the Bill's introduction the last three words were inadvertently left out of the phrase, " but, with those exceptions " in Clause 20. With the insertion of these three words the clause will be in the same terms as the existing law. I beg to move.

On Question, Amendment agreed to.

Clause 20, as amended, agreed to.

Clauses 21 to 24 agreed to.

Clause 25 [Particulars of export agreements]:

The LORD CHANCELLOR moved Amendment No. 2:

Page 27, line 2, leave out from (" which ") to end of line 17 and insert (" is or becomes one to which this Act would apply but for—

  1. (a) paragraph 6(1) of Schedule 3 to this Act, where the agreement relates to exports from the United Kingdom, or
  2. (b) paragraph 9(1) of that Schedule,

as if that agreement were subject to registration under this Act.")

The noble and learned Lord said

These are part of the pieces of the consolidation process which have left loose ends. Clause 25 requires that certain export agreements should be notified to the Director General of Fair Trading as if they were agreements subject to registration under the Act. The wording of the clause as it stands was thought by the Joint Committee to be excessively complex. I do not claim that what I propose in its place is limpid clear but it constitutes improvement, and I beg to move.

On Question, Amendment agreed to.

Clause 25, as amended, agreed to.

Clause 26 agreed to.

Clause 27 [Regulations for registration]:

3.23 p.m.

The LORD CHANCELLOR moved Amendment No. 3: Page 28, line 35, leave out (" from time to time ").

The noble and learned Lord said: The phrase " from time to time " in the paragraph referred to has been found to be unnecessary, and its removal by this Amendment will make the paragraph easier to understand. I beg to move.

On Question, Amendment agreed to.

Clause 27, as amended, agreed to.

Clauses 28 and 29 agreed to.

Clause 30 [Agreements holding down prices]:

The LORD CHANCELLOR moved Amendment No. 4: Page 32, line 1, leave out subsection (6).

The noble and learned Lord said: On further reflection and consideration it has been found that subsection (6) is unnecessary and may be omitted from consolidation without changing the law. I beg to move.

On Question, Amendment agreed to.

Clause 30, as amended, agreed to.

Clauses 31 and 32 agreed to.

Clause 33 [Agricultural and forestry associations, and fisheries associations]:

The LORD CHANCELLOR moved Amendment No. 5: Page 35, line 9, leave out (" (whenever made) ").

The noble and learned Lord said: Here again, there are words included in the clause for which it is found there is no need, and accordingly they can be omitted without changing the law. I beg to move.

On Question, Amendment agreed to

Clause 33, as amended, agreed to

Remaining clauses and Schedules agreed to.

House resumed: Bill reported with the Amendments.