§ 5. The Treasury may discharge any obligations of Her Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom arising under Article 17 of the Convention (which obliges the Contracting States to meet any deficit of the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes established under the Convention), and any sums required for that purpose shall be met out of money provided by Parliament.—[Mrs. White.]
§ Brought up, and read the First time.
§ The Minister of State for Foreign Affairs (Mrs. Eirene White)I beg to move, That the Clause be read a Second time.
The effect of the new Clause is to reinstate Clause 5 which, as it is concerned with expenditure, was not included in the Bill when it came to us from another place. I have already explained that it is not expected that any great expense will in fact be incurred, but we have a contingent liability.
§ Question put and agreed to.
§ Clause read a Second time and added to the Bill.
§ Schedule agreed to.
§ Bill reported, with an Amendment; as amended, considered.
§ Motion made, and Question proposed, That the Bill be now read the Third time.—[Queen's consent, on behalf of the Crown, signified]
§ 7.20 p.m.
§ Mrs. WhiteAll that I need say after the rapid progress which we have made is to thank the House, on both sides, for their assistance in this matter. The Bill will be of great assistance to international investment. It includes no controversial principles, and we are fortified in the belief that the House will give it a Third Reading.
§ Question put and agreed to.
§ Bill accordingly read the Third time and passed, with an Amendment.