§ Considered in Committee, and reported, without Amendment.
§ 1.5 p.m.
§ The Solicitor-GeneralI beg to move, "That the Bill be now read the Third time."
I had not intended to make any detailed observations on this Bill. I believe it has secured full agreement from all sides of the House, and its purpose has been fully explained already. As the House knows, it is designed to enable the Court of Appeal to sit in four divisions to enable it to get abreast of the heavy burden of work with which it is faced at present. I think it has been found by the general accord of the House that the case for the Bill has been made, and I accordingly ask that it may be given a Third Reading.
§ Mr. Joynson-Hicks (Chichester)Perhaps I may accept what the hon. and learned Gentleman has said for this side of the House, while expressing to the House and to him the regret of my right hon. and learned Friend the Member for West Derby (Sir D. Maxwell Fyfe) who is unavoidably prevented from being here to reply to the Debate. The Bill, brief as it is, provides adequately for the two points which it is desired to meet. It is a temporary provision for the clearance of the arrears of cases in the Court of Appeal which now amount to a substantial quantity. In addition, it meets that need while avoiding what was described in another place as an undue proliferation of judicial tribunals. In these circumstances, we welcome the provision and hope that the cases now before the Court of Appeal will not remain outstanding for any length of time.
§ Question put, and agreed to.
§ Bill accordingly read the Third time, and passed.