§ 3.24 p.m.
§ The Earl of MANSFIELDMy Lords, on behalf of my noble and learned friend the Lord Advocate, I beg to move that this Bill be now read a second time. It is a consolidation measure which incorporates amendments to give effect to recommendations of the Scottish Law Commission. It consolidates certain enactments relating to education in Scotland, and apart from the amendments which are intended to remove certain minor anomalies in existing law the Bill makes no change in the existing law. If your Lordships approve, the Bill will be referred to the Joint Committee on Consolidation Bills which will consider it and make its report to the House in due course. My Lords, I beg to move.
Moved, That the Bill be now read 2a.—(The Earl of Mansfield.)
§ Lord ROSS of MARNOCKMy Lords, I should like to congratulate the Government on the speed with which they have been able to incorporate in a consolidation measure a Bill which made changes in respect of Scotland and which was before the House just over a week or so ago. I noticed that they wasted no time at all in getting changes made in respect of nursery schools and school meals provisions. On the basis of the assurance that has been given by the Minister of State that there is no substantial amendment—which, of course, would cause the Government very considerable trouble and open up the whole Bill for amendment in another place, if not here—I certainly would support the Second Reading.
§ The Earl of MANSFIELDMy Lords, I must thank the noble Lord for those 134 few kind words. I am bound to say that when the gifts are proffered one looks to the nationality of the giver in case he is Greek, but in this case I need make no further comment.
§ On Question, Bill read 2a, and referred to the Joint Committee on Consolidation Bills.