§ 3.18 p.m.
§ Read a third time.
§ The Lord Chancellor (Lord Irvine of Lairg)My Lords, I beg to move that this Bill do now pass. I am sure the House will wish to join me in expressing appreciation for the work on this Bill both of the Law Commissions and also of the noble and learned Lord, 583 Lord Clyde, and the other members of the Joint Committee on Consolidation Bills. As the noble and learned Lord has said, the Bill produces a welcome thinning of the statute book.
In its report to the House the committee suggested that greater use should be made of provisions repealing superseded legislation in particular Bills before Parliament and that this would reduce the need for general Bills such as this. I agree. It would undoubtedly be desirable for every Bill to repeal material that it renders obsolete. In practice, however, this is not always possible because there is often insufficient time to do the necessary research. This is particularly the case where provisions which are spent, as opposed to provisions which are clearly replaced, are concerned. But our policy of consulting on draft Bills should improve such technical aspects as repeal provisions and I have certainly taken note of the Joint Committee's report.
§ Moved, That the Bill do now pass.—(The Lord Chancellor.)
§ Lord Peyton of YeovilMy Lords, before the noble and learned Lord puts the Question, perhaps I may make two comments. Some of your Lordships may not be aware of the extent of the noble and learned Lord's achievement in cleaning up the clutter of the statute book. I refer particularly to the first two measures involved. The first dates back to 1533 and an Act concerning the attainder of John Wolfe, his wife and others. The second, which is only 280 years out of date, refers to an Act to inflict pains and penalties on Francis, Lord Bishop of Rochester.
I am sure that your Lordships will now appreciate the extent and value of the work achieved by the noble and learned Lord on the Woolsack.
There is just one question that I would wish to ask him. Both of these measures are repealed as they apply to the Isle of Man. I wonder what is peculiar about the Isle of Man in this context. I would very much like to know whether these measures were repealed as regards the rest of the United Kingdom before this or whether they remain extant on the statute book. In that case I suggest that it is time they were got rid of.
§ The Lord ChancellorMy Lords, in the interests of avoiding any offence to the Isle of Man, I had better write to the noble Lord.
§ On Question, Bill passed, and sent to the Commons.