§ Order for Second Reading read.
§ 10.36 p.m.
§ The Solicitor-General (Sir Arthur Irvine)I beg to move, That the Bill be now read a Second time.
This consolidating Bill deals with the Acts relating to courts-martial appeals. The original Act was that of 1951, when the Courts-Martial Appeal Court was first established with a jurisdiction in courts-martial substantially corresponding to that of the then Court of Criminal Appeal. Amending Acts have followed altering the courts-martial appeal code, and these are parallel to changes which I have earlier referred to as applying to appeals in criminal cases. Thus the Appeal Court has, for example, a power corresponding to that of the Criminal Division of the Court of Appeal of ordering a new trial.
The Joint Committee of the two Houses has considered the Bill, has made certain amendments to improve the form Of the Bill, and reports that it considers 181 that the Bill as amended is pure consolidation and represents the existing law. I recommend it to the House.
§ 10.37 p.m.
§ Mr. Graham Page (Crosby)The Bill has the same two defects as the first consolidation Measure we debated this evening. The legal aid Clause, Clause 51, is to last only a few weeks and then repeals itself just because the Home Secretary has made an Order which does not take effect until 1st October next.
There is also the defect in Clause 61 that the Bill is stated to come into operation on a date which is now passed by reason of Statutory Instrument No. 1234 of 1967.
§ Question put and agreed to.
§ Bill accordingly read a Second time.
§ Bill committed to a Committee of the whole House—[Mr. Gourlay.]
§ Committee Tomorrow.