HL Deb 22 February 1977 vol 380 cc160-1

10.33 p.m.

Lord STANLEY of ALDERLEY

My Lords, I beg to move that this Bill be now read a second time.

Moved, That the Bill be now read 2a.—(Lord Stanley of Alderley.)

Lord WELLS-PESTELL

My Lords, with the permission of your Lordships, I shall be very brief. The Bill to which we now turn is a simple measure designed to deal with the close season for the buck and roe deer. That has already been included in the previous Bill we were discussing, so what it amounts to is that these two Bills form a race to the Statute Book. I think the only other point I need make is that, given the limited objective of the Bill, the Government do not wish to raise any objection; in the short time that we have had it we have been unable to pinpoint any drafting ambiguities, and thus all I need do now is to commend the Bill to the House.

Viscount THURSO

My Lords, may I ask the noble Lord whether the Government are prepared to have consultations about possibly bringing Scottish and English law into line on this point, seeing that they are about to give the Bill a fair wind? Can he say what are the views of the Department of Agriculture and the Scottish Office on this matter?

Lord WELLS-PESTELL

My Lords, I do not know what discussions, if any, have taken place, but the intention is that the Bill should operate from 1st November this year, which is the beginning of the close season for the animal that it is designed to protect. I should have to find out whether any consultations have taken place, or whether they are necessary, but beyond that I cannot go at this stage.

On Question, Bill read 2a, and committed to a Committee of the Whole House.