JUSTICES OF THE PEACE BILL [H.L.] (Hansard, 21 June 1979)

§ The LORD CHANCELLOR (Lord Hailsham of Saint Marylebone)
My Lords, I rise to move that this Bill be now read a second time. It consolidates quite a number of enactments relating mainly to the framework of organisations within which justices of the peace and their clerks exist and operate. The enactments date from as wide a range as 1742 and 1978. It is a pure consolidation Bill. It makes no changes in the existing law and, if read a second time, will be referred to the Joint Committee on Consolidation Bills in the usual way. I beg to move.

§ Lord ELWYN-JONES
My Lords, I think that the House will welcome this consolidation Bill, like the one which is to follow it, as a helpful addition to the considerable achievement which has taken place in the consolidation of Acts of Parliament. Already during the course of this year there have been no fewer than 14 consolidation Acts, some of them very substantial. I think it is fitting to pay tribute to those who have done, and who continue to do, the difficult work of consolidation, particularly parliamentary counsel and those at the Law Commission and in Government departments who devote a lot of time and trouble to this 1111 task, and also to the Members of both Houses who sit on the Joint Committee on Consolidation Bills.
The immediate Bill consolidating legislation relating to justices of the peace will, I know, be welcomed by them, embracing as it does, as the noble and learned Lord the Lord Chancellor has said, legislation as old as 1742 and as young as 1978. Anything that can be done to help the magistrates in the performance of their duty is clearly beneficial, because they play a vital role in the administration of justice and do so voluntarily, often at great inconvenience to themselves. I think it is desirable that from time to time their work should receive acknowledgement in your Lordships' House.

§ The LORD CHANCELLOR
My Lords, I am very grateful to the noble and learned Lord for the gracious words which he has spoken. I know that they will give profound satisfaction to those to whom he has referred. I think I might say—and it will be no secret to either of us—that the preparatory work for the Bills which I am now proposing, and which for some time to come I shall be proposing, was carried on under the auspices of the noble and learned Lord.