Page 5054 - Week 17 - Wednesday, 12 December 1990
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MR HUMPHRIES (Minister for Health, Education and the Arts) (11.12): There is not a great deal to say about this matter. The change of the name of the Bill to Sexually Transmitted Diseases (Amendment) Bill is an appropriate move in light of the evolution of this area of science, if you like. I have taken advice from my department. There seems to be no problem with that change of name and I am quite happy to support that. It also seems appropriate, given that a Bill is to be moved and that a Bill was to have been debated tomorrow on the same subject, that the two matters be brought together. I am not sure whether it is a sensible precedent to incorporate Government business into private members' business, but those opposite are happy and I am not unhappy in those circumstances.
The change of name is an important recognition of the evolution of this area. I think that we should support the more accurate reflection of the nature of the problem by the use of this new title. Mr Speaker, the matters which I raised in the debate on the Venereal Diseases (Amendment) Bill previously are therefore apposite in this. I will not repeat those comments. I commend the Opposition for allowing us to dispose of a matter which would otherwise have consumed time tomorrow.
Question resolved in the affirmative.
Bill agreed to in principle.
Detail Stage
Clauses 1 to 5, by leave, taken together, and agreed to.
New clause 5A
MR BERRY (11.14): I move:
That the following new clause be inserted after clause 5:
Repeal
"5A. Section 6B of the Principal Act is repealed.".
Mr Speaker, this amendment seeks to incorporate the action which was initiated by the Government. It is merely an efficient way of dealing with the legislation which has been proposed by the Government. It is merely a question of timing and sweeping the issue aside as quickly as possible.
Amendment agreed to.
Remainder of Bill, by leave, taken as a whole, and agreed to.
Bill, as amended, agreed to.
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