§ Mr. KeyTo ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will make a statement on progress made with revision of the topics identified by the Law Commission in 1995 where consolidation was essential and very desirable in their memorandum to the committee on the Armed Forces Bill in 1996; what additional topics have been so identified since 1996; and if he will make a statement with regard to the recommendations of the report from the Select Committee on the Armed Forces Bill (HC 143, Session 1995–96). [85898]
§ Mr. VazConsolidation of legislation relating to the sentencing powers of criminal courts is well advanced and should be completed early in 2000; and consolidation of 317W legislation relating to financial services was well advanced but has been suspended in view of the Government's proposals for reform in that area. No progress has yet been made on consolidation of legislation relating to road traffic regulation or Customs and Excise, and the legislation relating to taxes management is now a matter for the Tax Law ReWrite. The following additional topics have been identified since 1996: Nurses, Midwives and Health Visitors; Audit Commission; Justices of the Peace; Petroleum; and Criminal Appeals. The consolidating legislation on the first four of these has now been passed. It remains the Government's intention to consolidate the Service Discipline Acts at the earliest opportunity.