§ The Lord ChancellorMy Lords, I beg to move that the Bill be now read a second time.
Your Lordships may recognise this Bill from last Session. Although it was considered by your Lordships and the Joint Committee on Consolidation Bills, it was not able to complete its passage through another place before the dissolution of Parliament.
The Bill must proceed under the Consolidation of Enactments (Procedure) Act 1949 because under the Law Commissions Act 1965 neither the Law Commission nor the Scottish Law Commission has powers to recommend reform of any law which the Parliament of Northern Ireland has power to amend.
The Bill consolidates the Radioactive Substances Act 1960 and repeals the surviving provision of the Radioactive Substances Act 1948. Both those Acts extend to Northern Ireland and the subject matter is one with respect to which the Parliament of Northern Ireland would have had power to legislate. The consequence of that is that under the procedure laid down by the 1949 Act the Bill must be referred back to the Joint Committee on Consolidation Bills notwithstanding the fact that the Bill is in identical terms to those in which the Bill passed the House last Session.
Despite that legal requirement, I hope that the Bill can have as expeditious a passage as possible through your Lordships' House. I commend the Bill to your Lordships.
§ Moved, That the Bill be now read a second time. —(The Lord Chancellor.)
§ Lord MishconWe are most grateful to the noble and learned Lord for his explanation as to why the Bill has to come to us in this form.
§ The Lord ChancellorMy Lords, I am extremely grateful to the noble Lord.
§ On Question, Bill read a second time, and referred to the Joint Committee on Consolidation Bills.