HL Deb 29 March 1990 vol 517 cc978-80
The Lord Chancellor

My Lords, I beg to move that the House do now resolve itself into Committee (on recommitment) on this Bill.

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

On Question, Motion agreed to.

House in Committee (on recommitment) accordingly.

[The CHAIRMAN OF COMMITTEES in the Chair.]

Clauses 1 to 7 agreed to.

Schedule 1 agreed to.

Schedule 2 [Consequential amendments]:

The Lord Chancellor moved the amendment: Page 17, line 20, at end insert— ("The Town and Country Planning (Amendment) Act 1972 (c.42). In section lOC (10) of the Town and Country Planning (Amendment) Act 1972, for the words "Section 2 of the Local Authorities (Historic Buildings) Act 1962" there shall be substituted the words "Section 58 of the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) (Act 1990".").

The noble and learned Lord said: This is a minor drafting amendment the effect of which is to convert a reference in Section lOC (10) of the Town and Country Planning (Amendment) Act 1972 to Section 2 of the 1962 Act into a reference to Clause 58 of the Listed Buildings Bill. The 1962 Act is repealed by this Bill and reproduced in the Listed Buildings Bill. Clause 58 of that Bill is the corresponding provision of Section 2 of the 1962 Act. I beg to move.

Lord Renton

As this is the last of the amendments that we are considering to these four consolidation Bills on planning, we should not let the occasion pass without acknowledging the formidable task that the draftsmen and the officials had. As members of the Joint Consolidation Committee found, they had a most punishing exercise to carry out. Though all consideration is necessary and welcome— and it was particularly so in these instances— it was made the more difficult because of our rather strange methods of legislation. Those concerned deserve great credit for what they have done on this occasion.

Lord Ponsonby of Shulbrede

In the absence of my noble friend Lord Mishcon, perhaps I may echo the words of the noble Lord, Lord Renton. We are very grateful to the committee which considers consolidation measures.

The Lord Chancellor

I am extremely glad to join both noble Lords who have spoken on this matter. It is a largely unsung but an extremely important responsibility to keep the statute book in order by consolidations. These four consolidations cover an extremely complicated area of the law. They have been carried out extremely well. I am very grateful to the Joint Committee which examined these matters. It found that, generally speaking, the consolidations are entirely satisfactory. It produced a certain number of amendments but they were small in comparison with the volume of work involved. I express gratitude to the Law Commission and its draftsmen who undertook the task and also to the Joint Committee for the work which it put in in order to make sure that the consolidation was appropriate.

On Question, amendment agreed to.

Schedule 2, as amended, agreed to.

Remaining schedules agreed to.

House resumed: Bill reported with an amendment.