§ The Lord ChancellorMy Lords, I beg to move that this Bill be now read a second time. The Bill consolidates the enactments relating to the code which provides for the making of "confiscation orders" to deprive persons convicted of drug trafficking offences of the financial proceeds of their offences. The code was introduced by the Drug Trafficking Offences Act 1986, which has been amended by several subsequent Acts. Consolidation is particularly desirable because the Criminal Justice Act 1993 has made very extensive amendments to the 1986 Act, and few of those amendments have yet been brought into force. By 1441 incorporating their effect, the Bill represents an opportunity to state the amended law in a form that is, from the outset, readily accessible.
I know that the House will wish to join me in expressing our appreciation to the draftsmen for continuing their important consolidation work. 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
Moved, That the Bill be now read a second time. —(The Lord Chancellor.)
On Question, Bill read a second time, and referred to the Joint Committee on Consolidation Bills.