HC Deb 25 October 1960 vol 627 cc2220-1

Amendments made: In page 21, leave out lines 5 to 7.

In page 21, line 23, column 3, leave out "Section six" and insert: In section six, subsection (2)".—[The Attorney-General.]

6.39 p.m.

The Attorney-General

I beg to move, That the Bill be now read the Third time.

After the long discussions that we have had on the Bill in Committee and on Report, it is not necessary for me to remind the House in any detail of the contents of this Measure. The right hon. and learned Member for Newport (Sir F. Soskice) will, I think, agree with me that the Bill has been subjected by both sides of the House to close and careful consideration. I think that the right hon. and learned Gentleman would also agree with me that, except on one point on which we have differed, the Bill is a desirable reform of our law and should, as the result of our joint efforts, work well.

I am sure that it is right that we should enlarge the right of appeal to the House of Lords in criminal cases and that we should have made the important provision for appeal in cases of contempt of court. I am sure that both those things are good. I commend the Bill to the House as a desirable addition to our criminal law and one which will be of benefit to all those who come within its scope.

6.41 p.m.

Sir F. Soskice

I wish shortly to echo what the Attorney-General has said. Bills of this sort are apt to be technical and not to have a wide appeal to those who have to listen to the technicalities which are discussed. It is, nevertheless, one of those Bills which mark progress along the years in the administration of our law, particularly our criminal law.

The Bill is of very great importance. The provisions in Clauses 1 and 2 with regard to appeal to the House of Lords introduce a change which is generally welcomed. Speaking for my own side, I am glad that the Government resisted attempts to make the right of appeal to the House of Lords in criminal cases equally wide with that which at present exists in civil cases.

The Bill is momentous in its own way. It will, at intervals of years, be followed by similar Bills. We have had some sharp points of disagreement. They were discussed today and earlier. But, on balance, it introduces very great improvements and can be regarded as one of the important reforms in our law. I hope that it will be given a Third Reading.

Question put and agreed to.

Bill accordingly read the Third time and passed, with Amendments.