§ Mr. MillanI beg to move Amendment No. 29, in page 32, line 33, leave out 'best'.
Mr. Deputy SpeakerI suggest that with this Amendment the House can also consider Amendment No. 116.
§ Mr. MillanClause 52 deals with the circumstances in which the Secretary of State might terminate a supervision requirement. Reference is made to having regard to the best interests of a child. The word "best" does not add anything. The important words are
having regard to … the interests of a childTherefore, the word "best" comes out.Similarly, Schedule 3 deals with whether or not legal aid should be granted by the sheriff granting a legal aid certificate. The Schedule as it stands provides that the sheriff has to be satisfied that the giving of legal aid is necessary in the best interests of the child. This suggests, on the one hand, that there may be some interests which say that the child ought to have legal aid and, on the other hand, others which say that he ought not to. I am sure the hon. and learned Member for Edinburgh, Pentlands (Mr. Wylie) will not accept that there is a balance of interest, and therefore the word "best" does not give the meaning we want and is better eliminated.
§ Amendment agreed to.