HL Deb 08 March 1983 vol 440 cc88-90

3.6 p.m.

The Lord Chancellor (Lord Hailsham of Saint Marylebone)

My Lords, I beg to move that the House do now resolve itself into a Committee upon the said Bill. In doing so I must apologise for having a Committee stage on a consolidation Bill. However, a certain number of drafting errors have emerged and they will be put right in the Committee stage if your Lordships will pass this Motion. I beg to move.

Moved, That the House do now resolve itself into Committee (on Re-commitment)—(The Lord Chancellor.)

On Question, Motion agreed to.

House in Committee (on Re-commitment) accordingly.

[The LORD ABERDARE in the Chair.]

Clauses 1 to 22 agreed to.

Clause 23 [Discharge of patients]:

The Lord Chancellor moved Amendment No. 1: Page 22, line 13, leave out ("Area Health Authority").

The noble and learned Lord said: I beg to move Amendment No. 1 and to speak at the same time to Amendments Nos. 2 to 6. The object of these amendments is to remove redundant references to area health authorities from the Bill. Prior to 1st April 1982 the National Health Service had a three-tier structure of regional health authorities, area health authorities and health districts. On that date area health authorities were abolished and their local management functions were devolved to district health authorities. References to area health authorities or their functions in the Bill as drafted are therefore redundant, although this was overlooked at the earlier stage. The unnecessary references are removed by Amendments Nos. 1 to 6. I beg to move.

Lord Elwyn-Jones

Bearing in mind the quantity and speed of consolidation, it is not surprising, and it is forgivable, that there should be an occasional error.

On Question, amendment agreed to.

Clause 23, as amended, agreed to.

Clause 24 [Visiting and examination of patients]:

The Lord Chancellor moved Amendment No. 2: Page 22, line 34, leave out ("Area Health Authority").

On Question, amendment agreed to.

Clause 24, as amended, agreed to.

Clauses 25 to 31 agreed to.

Clause 32 [Regulations for purposes of Part II]:

The Lord Chancellor moved Amendment No. 3: Page 30, line 18, leave out ("Area Health Authorities").

On Question, amendment agreed to.

Clause 32, as amended, agreed to.

Clauses 33 to 139 agreed to.

Clause 140 [Notification of hospitals having arrangements for reception of urgent cases]:

The Lord Chancellor moved Amendment No. 4: Page 107, line 6, leave out ("every Area and")

On Question, amendment agreed to.

The Lord Chancellor moved Amendment No, 5: Page 107, line 8, leave out ("area")

On Question, amendment agreed to.

Clause 140, as amended, agreed to.

Clauses 141 to 144 agreed to.

Clause 145 [Interpretation]:

The Lord Chancellor moved Amendment No. 6: Page 110, line 7, leave out ("Area Health Authority")

On Question, amendment agreed to.

Clause 145, as amended, agreed to.

Remaining clauses agreed to.

Schedules 1 to 3 agreed to.

Schedule 4 [Consequential amendments]:

The Lord Chancellor moved Amendment No. 7: Page 127, line 17, leave out ("143") and insert ("126")

The noble and learned Lord said: This amendment merely rectifies a drafting error,and the correct clause is Clause 126 and not Clause 143. I beg to move.

On Question, amendment agreed to.

Schedule 4, as amended, agreed to.

Remaining schedules agreed to.

House resumed: Bill reported with the amendments.