§ The Lord Chancellor (Lord Hailsham of Saint Marylebone)My Lords, I rise to move that this Bill be now read a second time. It is a strict consolidation Bill. The pilotage legislation was last consolidated so long ago as the Pilotage Act 1913. Few amendments were made to that until the Merchant Shipping Act 1979 made extensive amendments to the 1913 Act as well as introducing new provisions. This is, therefore, a suitable time for an up-to-date consolidation. Although some of the provisions of the 1979 Act are not yet in force, they are included in this Bill in accordance with normal practice. I should add that if your Lordships give this Bill a Second Reading it will be referred, in the usual way, to the Joint Committee on Consolidation Bills. I beg to move.
§ Moved, That the Bill be now read a second time.—(The Lord Chancellor.)
§ On Question, Bill read a second time, and referred to the Joint Committee on Consolidation Bills.