HC Deb 01 August 1922 vol 157 cc1417-8
Mr. SPEAKER

I have satisfied myself that there is a drafting Amendment on this Bill which can be taken.

The UNDER-SECRETARY of STATE for the HOME DEPARTMENT (Sir John Baird)

I beg to move, "That the Lords Amendment be considered forthwith."

This is purely a drafting Amendment. Before the Bill left this House we omitted the provision which related to recognizances in England, and it was necessary to strike out the paragraph which translated that provision into Scottish legal phraseology. The legal language in Scotland is different from that in England, and what is understood in England is not understood in Scotland. So it was necessary, in order to make the Bill comprehensible in both countries, to translate this particular provision into phraseology understood in Scotland. Having omitted the provision in reference to England, it was necessary to omit the paragraph which translated it into Scottish legal phraseology. This paragraph remained in the Bill as it left this House, and in another place, by the exercise of that vigilance for which they are famous, it was seen that it was unnecessary, and they proceeded to eliminate it.

Mr. HOLMES

The hon. Gentleman Las said that the House of Lords exercised its usual vigilance. If it be so excellent in all its works, why is it necessary for the Government to introduce a Measure to reform it?

Sir J. BAIRD

I think that that hardly arises on this question.

Lords Amendment considered accordingly.

    c1418
  1. CLAUSE 4.—(Application to Scotland.) 70 words