§ Lord Lyell rose to move, That the four draft orders laid before the House on 1st May be approved. [4th Report from the Joint Committee on Consolidation Bills.]
§ The noble Lord said: My Lords, I beg to move that the draft Companies (Northern Ireland) Order 1986, the draft Company Securities (Insider Dealing) (Northern Ireland) Order 1986, the draft Business Names (Northern Ireland) Order 1986 and, finally, the draft Companies Consolidation (Consequential Provisions) (Northern Ireland) Order 1986 be approved. Perhaps I may stress that should any noble Lord object to my moving these orders together, I shall move them separately; but I intend to speak to them all together since I hope that they hang together.
§ All these orders were laid before your Lordships on 1st May this year. All of them go to consolidate the Companies Act (Northern Ireland) 1960, the Companies (Northern Ireland) Order 1978, the Companies (Northern Ireland) Order 1981, the Companies (Northern Ireland) Order 1982 and the Companies (Beneficial Interests) (Northern Ireland) Order 1983.
§ I am further able to indicate to your Lordships that the Joint Committee on Consolidation Bills considered this extensive consolidation on 14th May this year. The committee was satisfied that all these measures are pure consolidation. I hope your Lordships will accept that these orders make no change of substance in the existing law but bring that law together in a series of updated orders. With that brief explanation, I commend the consolidation, if I may, of all these orders en bloc, if that be the wish of your Lordships.
§ Moved, That the four draft orders laid before the House on 1st May be approved. [4th Report from the Joint Committee on Consolidation Bills.]—(Lord Lyell.)
§ Lord Graham of EdmontonMy Lords, we on this side of the House very much appreciate the brevity with which these orders were moved. If I simply say to the Minister that we take his word for it, I am sure he will understand that we do not wish to debate one of these orders with 681 articles, I am told, and 21 schedules. As the noble Lord pointed out, these cover a matter of great importance and substance, not just to the business community as one might think but 1151 also to every person who lives in Northern Ireland; because while these are not consumer protection measures, nevertheless the importance of regulating business and making sure there is a proper framework within which the people of Northern Ireland can feel they have the same protection as those on the mainland is very important.
The Minister knows what we are going through in legislative terms. Tomorrow we discuss the Building Societies Bill and the Financial Services Bill. We are living at a time, with the Big Bang coming off later, when it is very important indeed that the people of Northern Ireland should take an interest in this matter. We trust that all who are affected feel that we in this House take very seriously that they should get the most protection they possibly can. We on this side of the House certainly understand the consolidating nature of these orders, and we certainly give them a warm welcome.
§ Lord LyellMy Lords, I see no other Member of your Lordships' House who wishes to suggest that I might desist from speaking. I shall speak for thirty seconds and express my gratitude to the noble Lord, Lord Graham, for his welcome of these orders. I was in his position some years ago, and I never ceased to take an opportunity to tease the Minister. I am exceedingly grateful that the noble Lord did not start working through 600 or more sections tonight. He may note that even at this late hour I may call in aid my noble and learned friend. May I say to the noble Lord, Lord Graham, that the Joint Committee on Consolidation Bills seem to have examined all these orders, which seem to mirror United Kingdom legislation. They seek to bring Northern Ireland company legislation and commercial dealings up to date. I say again that I am very grateful to the noble Lord for his reception of them; and I am also grateful to your Lordships for allowing me to move all four orders en bloc.
§ On Question, Motion agreed to.