NAVY AND MARINES (WILLS) BILL. [H.L.]

HL Deb 03 September 1939 vol 114 cc959-60

EARL STANHOPE

My Lords, I beg to present a Bill entitled Navy and Marines (Wills) Bill; and to move that it be now read a first time.

Moved, That the Bill be now read 1^a.—(Earl Stanhope.)

On Question, Bill read 1^a, and to be printed.

Then, Standing Order No. XXXIX having been suspended:

EARL STANHOPE

My Lords, this is a very short Bill. Its purpose is to put the wills of the men in the Royal Navy and in the Marines in the same position as the wills of those who are serving in the Army or in the Royal Air Force or in the Merchant Navy. Under previous Acts of Parliament a soldier since 1837 or a man in the Mercantile Marine has been entitled to make a verbal will in the presence of two witnesses, or a will which he writes in his own handwriting without its being witnessed by anybody. That was extended to airmen in 1918, but there has been no such provision for the Navy and the Royal Marines except during the last War. This Bill therefore is to carry out a similar provision to that which Parliament made on that occasion, and to place the Navy and Marines in line with the other Services I have mentioned. I beg to move that the Bill be now read a second time.

Moved, That the Bill be now read 2^a.—(Earl Stanhope.)

On Question, Bill read 2^a: Committee negatived.

Bill read 3^a, and passed, and sent to the Commons.

12.37 p.m.