§ Motion made and Question proposed, "That the Clause stand part of the Bill."
§ Mr. TinkerWhy is the Bill not to extend to Scotland?
§ The Attorney-GeneralBecause Scotland has its own legal system which is different from ours. In many respects the procedure and rules of evidence are different and, therefore, a Bill drawn up to apply to our rules does not apply to Scotland. I cannot say what is the exact position of Scottish law in regard to these matters, but at present it suffers from the same defects as our law, and no doubt they 774 will follow our enlightened example and make similar changes in their own system. I do not know what are the Scottish rules of evidence in regard to the admissibility of documentary evidence.
§ Mr. TinkerDoes the same thing apply to Northern Ireland?
§ The Attorney-GeneralThe Bill is not to apply to Northern Ireland, because these are matters within the competence of the Northern Ireland Parliament and, therefore, it should be left to them to say whether they will adopt this Bill or some modification of it.
§ Question put, and agreed to.
§ Bill reported, without Amendment; read the Third time, and passed, without Amendment.