§ Baroness Jay of PaddingtonMy Lords, I beg to move the second Motion standing in my name on the Order Paper. It may be for the convenience of the House if I explain the background to this matter. The Election Publications Bill was introduced in the House yesterday. It has been agreed by the usual channels that we shall have the Second Reading today and the 271 remaining stages on Thursday. The purpose of the Bill is to rescind the commencement of certain provisions of the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act relating to the imprint on election material which, with hindsight, was brought into force too soon.
We have introduced the Bill following representations from all three main political parties. We need to act quickly as the parties and their candidates have been preparing for—I emphasise—the local elections on 3rd May on the basis of the old imprint requirements. Such material will not comply with the new law. The proposed Bill would therefore enable the parties to work to the old requirements for a further period and so save enormous wastage. I hope that I have explained that satisfactorily.
Moved, That Standing Order 46 (No two stages of a Bill to be taken on one day) be dispensed with tomorrow to allow the Election Publications Bill [H.L.] to be taken through its remaining stages.—(Baroness Jay of Paddington.)
On Question, Motion agreed to.