§ 3 p.m.
§ The LORD CHANCELLOR (Lord Elwyn-Jones)My Lords, I beg to move that this Bill be now read a second time. The Bill is a pure consolidation of the provisions of three Statutes and several Statutory Instruments and makes no changes in the law. Its relevant provisions will have the same validity, the same requirement for renewal and will be subject to the same Parliamentary procedures, as the legislation which they will replace. It will however spell out the rights and liabilities of the individual, and the powers and responsibilities of the Security Forces, in a more simple and understandable form.
This Bill is essentially the same as that which I introduced into your Lordships' House in May of this year and which passed through all stages in this House. It was unable then to make further progress because of a last minute amendment in the law. The present Bill takes account of that amendment as well as of 1096 the Amendments made to the earlier Bill by the Joint Committee on Consolidation Bills. My Lords, I beg to move.
Moved, That the Bill be now read 2a.—(The Lord Chancellor.)
On Question, Bill read 2a, and referred to the Joint Committee on Consolidation Bills.