§ 3.5 p.m.
§ The Lord President of the Council (Viscount Whitelaw)My Lords, I beg to move the Motion standing in my name on the Order Paper.
§ Moved, That Standing Order 44 (No two stages of a Bill to be taken on one day) be dispensed with for the purpose of taking the Rent (Amendment) Bill through all its remaining stages this day.—(Viscount Whitelaw.)
§ The noble Viscount said: My Lords, the purpose of the Motion is to enable the Rent (Amendment) Bill to be taken through its Second Reading and remaining stages during the dinner break this evening. The Bill has already been passed in another place, and if your Lordships agree to take it through all stages this evening, it will receive Royal Assent on Thursday. The purpose of the Bill is to correct an anomaly arising out of a recent judicial decision. It has been agreed through the usual channels that the Bill's progress should be accelerated in this way.
§ On Question, Motion agreed to.