HC Deb 23 July 1918 vol 108 cc1757-8

Notwithstanding anything in the Solicitors' Acts, 1889 to 1917, any time after the third day of August, nineteen hundred and fourteen (whether before or after the passing of this Act), during which an articled clerk has for the purposes of the present War served in any of His Majesty's Forces, or in any public service connected with the present War of a character approved by the Master of the Rolls, or has, in consequence of the present War, been detained as a prisoner, military or civil, in any enemy country, or been interned in an enemy or neutral country, shall, on the Law Society being satisfied as to the fact and length of such service, detention or internment, and that the articled clerk has in other respects complied with the said Acts be reckoned for all purposes as time duly served under his articles of clerkship.

Motion made, and Question proposed, "That the Clause stand part of the Bill."

Mr. BOOTH

I do not think we had any notice that this Bill was to be taken in Committee. I do not like to move to report Progress, but I understand that no indication was given that an attempt would be made to pass this Bill through all its stages, and I should like to know whether the right hon. Gentleman has got some ground for doing it. At present no suggestion has been made that this needs to be rushed through all its stages in one day.

Sir G. HEWART

My answer is quite short. This Bill is a perfectly simple, obvious, and modest Bill. It has been passed through all its stages in another place. It explains itself. There is no objection to it, and there is no reason why it should be postponed.

Question put, and agreed to.