§ 11.23 p.m.
§ The SOLICITOR - GENERAL (Sir Donald Somervell)I beg to move, in page 17, line 1, to leave out "expectant interest," and to insert "interest in expectancy."
It would, I think, be for the convenience of the House if I dealt briefly with this and the three following Amendments, which are very little more than drafting Amendments. When the Clause was before the Committee two or three Amendments were put down by my hon. and learned Friend the Member for Ashford (Mr. Spens). There was no conflict of intention between us, and the Amendments were really designed to make more clear the intention of the Government. I could not at the time accept them in the form in which they appeared, and my hon. and learned Friend has been good enough to discuss the matter with me since. The Amendments now on the Paper meet with the approval of the Government and meet the points which my hon. and learned Friend raised. The words in the Clause were certainly ambiguous, and the Clause, as amended, we are satisfied, carries out our original intention as explained to the House, and I hope that the Amendments will meet with the approval of my hon. and learned Friend.
§ 11.25 p.m.
§ Mr. SPENSMay I express my thanks to my hon. and learned Friend for the 168 assistance he has given me in this matter? We are now absolutely agreed.
§ Sir S. CRIPPSI am sure we all thank my hon. and learned Friend for Ashford (Mr. Spens) for giving the Law Officers of the Crown a little lesson in Chancery Law.
§ Amendment agreed to.
§ Further Amendments made:
§ In page 17, line 6, leave out from "which," to "produced," in line 7.
§ In page 17, line 8, leave out "his lifetime," and insert "the lifetime of the deceased."
§ In page 17, line 10, leave out paragraph (a).—[The Solicitor-General.]
§ Bill to be read the Third time To-morrow, and to be printed. [Bill 144.]