§ Mr. SharplesI beg to move Amendment No. 10, in page 29, line 36, leave out 'a court of quarter sessions' and insert 'the Crown Court'.
I wonder whether it will be convenient to take at the same time Amendment No. 11?
§ Mr. Deputy Speaker (Sir Robert Grant-Ferris)If that is agreeable to the House, yes.
§ Mr. SharplesWhen the Bill was originally drafted Clause 27 provided for appeal from a magistrates' court to a court of quarter sessions in England or Wales. Since the Bill was drafted, the Courts Bill has made considerable progress. Under that Bill a court of quarter sessions will be replaced by the Crown Court. The Courts Bill makes provision for substituting in other enactments, including the Fire Precautions Bill, "the Crown Court" for "a court of quarter sessions". It would be easier for the reader of the Bill to have the matter spelt out rather than have it referred to in another Bill by way of explanation. That is the reason for the Amendments.
§ Amendment agreed to.
§
Further Amendment made: No. 11, in page 29, line 39, at end insert:
(2) Before the coming into force of section 3 of the Courts Act 1971 subsection (1) above shall have effect as if for the reference to the Crown Court there were substituted a reference to a court of quarter sessions.