§ 3.6 p.m.
§ The Lord Chancellor (Lord Hailsham of Saint Marylebone)My Lords, I rise to move that this Bill be now read a second time.
The legislation relating to agricultural holdings—that is to say, the legislation regulating tenancies of agricultural land—was last consolidated in the Agricultural Holdings Act 1948. That 1948 Act has since been supplemented by Part H of the Agriculture (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1968 and extensively amended, principally by the Agriculture Act 1958, Part I of the Agriculture (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976 and the Agricultural Holdings Act 1984.
This Bill consolidates the Act of 1948, Part II of the Act of 1976, the Agricultural Holdings (Notices to Quit) Act 1977, the Act of 1984, and certain related enactments. If your Lordships agree to give this Bill a Second Reading, it will be referred to the Joint Committee in the usual way. In those circumstances, I beg to move that the Bill be now read a second time.
§ Moved, That the Bill be now read a second time.—(The Lord Chancellor.)
§ Lord RentonMy Lords, I hope that this Bill will pass through both Houses very quickly, During the passage of the 1984 Act a number of us complained of the complexity of its provisions as affecting farmers, landowners and those advising them. It is a relief to know that there is now to be some consolidation with the previous legislation. May we give it a speedy blessing.
§ The Lord ChancellorMy Lords, I am very grateful to my noble friend. We in the Government always pay great attention to his suggestions and his criticisms of our legislation.
§ On Question, Bill read a second time, and referred to the Joint Committee on Consolidation Bills.