§ Second Reading debate resumed.
§ 4.44 p.m.
The CHAIRMAN of COMMITTEES (Lord Abardare)My Lords, I am grateful to the Chief Whip for now giving me the opportunity of making very few remarks on this Bill. I thought it would be useful if I said a few words on the procedure connected with the Bill, as it is a Private Bill and not a Public Bill, and in particular to remind your Lordships that there is a distinct difference between giving a Second Reading to a Public Bill and to a Private Bill. In giving a Second Reading to of a Public Bill, your Lordships are in fact approving of the principles underlying the Bill. But in the case of a Private Bill this is not so and all that your Lordships will be doing, if you give this Bill a Second Reading, which I hope you will, is agreeing that it should go to the appropriate committees.
1417 As the noble Lord, Lord Underhill, told the House, Part II of the Bill dealing with Epping Forest is opposed; the petitioners are the Upshire Village Preservation Society, and this part of the Bill will go to a Select Committee in the normal way, and that Select Committee will be able to hear the evidence from the promoters and the evidence from the petitioners and make recommendations to this House. The remaining clauses of the Bill, which were succinctly outlined by the noble Lord, Lord Mais, will go to the Unopposed Bill Committee. The only other point I would mention is that all the remarks made in this debate I will ensure are made available to both those committees.
§ Lord MAISIn view of the lateness of the hour, my Lords, I have no further remarks to make in connection with the Bill.
§ On Question, Bill read 2a, and committed to a Select Committee.