§ 3.27 p.m.
§ The Lord ChancellorMy Lords, I beg to move that this Bill be now read a third time. This is the first of five Bills in my name on the Order Paper. I shall speak briefly to all five Bills together. As I explained to your Lordships on Second Reading, this consolidation results from the Water Act 1989 which substantially restructured the law of England and Wales relating to water. The consolidation is substantial and I am sure that I have the support of the House in expressing 1007 appreciation for the work of the Law Commission, of parliamentary counsel who made the consolidation possible, and of the Joint Committee which has carefully considered these Bills.
I hope that I also have the support of the House, or at least its forbearance, as I move the remaining stages of each of the five Bills. Since separate Motions are necessary for the Third Reading and passage of each Bill, your Lordships will observe an element of ebbing and flowing on each occasion.
Moved, That the Bill be now read a third time.—(The Lord Chancellor.)
§ On Question, Bill read a third time, and passed, and sent the Commons.