I move that the Bill be read a Second Time. The Bill is identical with the Act of last year, and contains no law that is not in last year's Act.
EXPIRING LAWS BILL, 1926— SECOND STAGE.
I should like to take the opportunity to ask the Minister responsible if, on the Committee Stage, he will give us some justification for paragraph 9 of the memorandum, which contains Sections 13, 21 and 23 of the Local Government (Emergency Provisions) Act, 1916. The effect of this vagueness will be to avoid the presentation of certain returns in connection with the Local Government Department. I think we are rather deficient in information on Local Government work, and it is time, I think, that the old arrangement regarding the returns in respect of local taxation and in respect to the Housing of the Working Classes Acts, payment of superannuation allowances, gratuities, and so on, were reverted to. According to the Act which is now continued the provision requiring that returns should be presented was suspended. The suspension is still to continue, and I think we should be given some reasons why it should continue.
Either the Minister for Local Government or I shall make a statement on the Committee Stage.
Question—"That the Bill be read a Second Time"—put and agreed to.
Committee Stage ordered for Friday, 3rd December, 1926.