§ 3.5 p.m.
§ The Lord Chancellor (Lord Mackay of Clashfern)My Lords, I beg to move that this Bill be now read a second time. The Bill consolidates the Tribunals and Inquiries Act 1971 and certain other enactments relating to tribunals and inquiries. The 1971 Act has been extensively amended and applied by other enactments since coming on to the statute book. This consolidation Bill will therefore serve the useful purpose of bringing all the relevant law back together in one place.
The Bill has been drafted by parliamentary counsel at the Law Commission. I should like to take this opportunity of expressing my appreciation to the Law Commission and the draftsman for their continuing excellent work in keeping the statute book in good order. If your Lordships are content to give the Bill a Second Reading, it will be referred in the usual way to the Joint Committee on Consolidation Bills. I beg to move.
§ Moved, That the Bill be now read a second time. —(The Lord Chancellor.)
§ Lord MishconMy Lords, this is undoubtedly a very useful consolidation. Tribunals increase and inquiries multiply. For us to be able in one single Bill to identify the provisions of the 1971 Act and pick up all the little bits and pieces that relate to legislation on tribunals and inquiries is a most useful exercise. We on this side of the House support the Second Reading and would like to be associated with all that the noble and learned Lord said about the parliamentary draftsman and the Law Commission.
§ The Lord ChancellorMy Lords, I am grateful for what the noble Lord said.
§ On Question, Bill read a second time, and committed to the Joint Committee on Consolidation Bills.