§ Read a third time.
§ Clause 9 [Short title, commencement and extent]:
§ The Lord Chancellor (Lord Mackay of Clashfern)moved the amendment:
Page 4, line 2, leave out from ("on") to end of line 3 and insert ("1st July 1997").The noble and learned Lord said: My Lords, Clause 9 provides for the Bill to come into force on such day as the Secretary of State shall appoint by order. This is because the Bill consolidates provisions of the Reserve Forces Act 1996 and that Act has not yet been brought into force. However, when the Bill was before the Joint Committee on Consolidation Bills, it was noted with approval by the joint committee that if the order bringing the 1996 Act into force was made before the Lieutenancies Bill completed its passage through your Lordships' House an amendment would be brought forward to provide a fixed commencement date for this Bill.The commencement order has now been made; namely, 1st April 1997, as the date on which the 1996 Act will come into force. As a consequence, this amendment carries through the intention to provide a fixed commencement date for this Bill. The date chosen of 1st July 1997 should allow for a three month period to elapse, as is customary for Consolidation Bills, between Royal Assent and commencement. I beg to move.
§ On Question, amendment agreed to.
§ The Lord ChancellorMy Lords, I beg to move that the Bill do now pass.
§ Moved, that the Bill do now pass.—(The Lord Chancellor.)
§ On Question, Bill passed, and sent to the Commons.