§ Amendments made: No. 191, in page 112, line 13, at end insert section 30(2A) above, in'.
§
No. 192, in page 112, line 26, at end insert—
'3A. Section (Alteration of maximum periods of imprisonment in default of payment of fines etc.), and any related repeal provided for in Schedule 12 to this Act, shall not apply to a term of imprisonment to be served by a defaulter which has been fixed or imposed before the commencement of that section.'.
§
No. 193, in page 112, line 28, after 29', insert
'or any provision mentioned in paragraph 3A above'.—[Mr. Merlyn Rees.]
§ 7.20 a.m.
§ Mr. Merlyn ReesI beg to move, That the Bill be now read the Third time.
§
No. 185, in page 110, line 38, column 3, at beginning insert—
'In section 34(1) the word "medical".'.
§ No. 186, in page 110, line 52, column 3, at end insert Section 33.'.
§
No. 187, in page 111, line 17, at end insert—
'In section 58(a), the word "33".'.
§
No. 188, in page 111, line 26. column 3, at end insert—
'In Schedule 5, paragraphs 6 and 8.'.
§
No. 189, in page 111, line 44, column 3, at end insert—
'In section 27(1) the words "to the Magistrates' Courts Act 1952 and". In Schedule I. paragraph 26.'.
§ On Second Reading I said that the Bill did not have a single theme. It now has more themes—64 clauses instead of 50; and we have made about 200 amendments, as well as a similar number in another place. I am glad to have my name on the Bill which puts the common law offence of conspiracy in England and Wales in statutory form and prescribes penalties to be related to the substantive offence at which the conspiracy was directed. The House has reason to be well satisfied with its work. We are indebted to the right hon. and learned Member for Wimbledon (Sir M. Havers) for his wise counsel and helpful spirit and to my right hon. and hon. Friends.
§ I express my personal appreciation of the work of the Minister of State, who has steered the Bill through Committee and borne the brunt of the Report stage. He represents Pontypridd, and the men born there are noted for their perspicacity and sagacity. Some of us have not had 745 his patience, and we are grateful for his piloting of the Bill.
§ 7.22 a.m.
§ Sir M. HaversI share the Home Secretary's commendation of the Minister of State. The Bill is much better. Many of the points I raised on Second Reading have been adopted, and I am grateful for the courtesy which the Government have always shown. On the first day of the Committee stage, when the ability of the Minister of State was already becoming apparent, I said:
I think it possible that, before IA e finish our deliberations next month, we shall confer upon the Minister the honorary title of Silk '—not, I hasten to say, hyphenated in any way." —[Official Report, Standing Committee E, 10th May 1977; col. 43.]I hope that I may be allowed to present him with this token of that honorary title of "Silk".
Mr. Deputy SpeakerIf Mr. Speaker had been here, he would have conferred 746 on the Minister the honorary Doctorate of Laws of the House of Commons.
§ 7.24 a.m.
§ Mr. MikardoI am about to make the last of my series of one-sentence, one-minute speeches of the night. On Second Reading, my hon. Friends and I thought that this was a diabolically awful Bill and we voted against it. Since then some improvements have been made, and it is now no more than a devilishly awful one. We therefore do not propose to vote against the Third Reading.
§ Question put and agreed to.
§ Bill accordingly read the Third time and passed, with amendments.