HL Deb 16 May 1977 vol 383 cc545-6

6.52 p.m.

Lord NEWALL

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

Moved, that the House do now resolve itself into Committee.—(Lord Newall.)

On Question, Motion agreed to.

House in Committee accordingly.

[The Lord DOUGLAS of BARLOCH in the Chair.]

Clause 1 agreed to.

Clause 2 [Short title, citation and commencement]:

Lord NEWALL moved the following Amendment: Page 1, line 19, leave out ("twelve") and insert ("six").

The noble Lord said: This Amendment results from discussions between the Registration Council and the Home Office. It brings forward by six months the date at which the descriptions "farrier" and "shoesmith" become reserved to registered men. This should accelerate applications for registration, which in turn should advance by six months the date at which it will be reasonable for the Home Secretary to review the number and distribution of farriers as revealed by the state of the register at that time. He should then be in a position to decide, in the light of the review, what date can be appointed to bring Section 16 into force and in what areas, as Section 19 of the 1975 Act provides. Assuming that the amended Bill reaches the Statute Book at the end of July 1977, farriers will then have until the end of January 1978 to decide whether to register or to stop using the restricted descriptions. Those who decide to register will secure registration for the whole of 1978, instead of for part only of the year, as would be the case if the Amendment were not made. I beg to move.

Lord WELLS-PESTELL

The Government are grateful to the noble Lord, Lord Newall, for moving this Amendment. He indicated that he would do so on 9th May, and the Government commend this Amendment to your Lordships.

On Question, Amendment agreed to.

Clause 2, as amended, agreed to.

Schedule agreed to.

House resumed: Bill reported with an Amendment.