HL Deb 06 February 1992 vol 535 cc347-8

3.34 p.m.

The Lord Chancellor (Lord Mackay of Clashfern)

My Lords, your Lordships will notice that there are five further Bills to be subject to the same Motion. They are closely connected Bills. It may be that your Lordships' Procedure Committee will be able to devise a somewhat neater procedure for dealing with such Bills than has been thought of hitherto.

It has become more common recently for parliamentary counsel preparing consolidations to prepare a series of Bills rather than a single Bill because of the size of the subject matter. That has proved convenient to users but it has meant that your Lordships are apt to be subjected to seeing me perform in a way which may not be particularly illuminating and which takes some time. It would be advantageous if we could find a way to simplify the procedure. I beg to move that this Bill be now read a third time.

Moved, That the Bill be now read a third time.—(The Lord Chancellor.)

Lord Mishcon

My Lords, at once I associate myself with what the noble and learned Lord said in regard to the procedure on these matters. It is not just the mental agility of the noble and learned Lord which we have come to admire on recent occasions, but his athletic ability and the way that he dashes from one place to another. He always does that with great dignity.

On Question, Bill read a third time.

The Lord Chancellor

My Lords, I beg to move that this Bill do now pass.—(Lord Chancellor.)

Moved, That the Bill do now pass.—(The Lord Chancellor.)

On Question, Bill passed, and sent to the Commons.