HC Deb 30 July 1980 vol 989 cc1660-1
Mr. Norman Buchan () Renfrewshire, West

I beg to move amendment No. 2, in page 16, line 42, after 'above', insert 'the expression'.

Mr. Deputy Speaker

With this we may take amendment No. 3, in page 17. line 6, at end insert '; but the expression does not include an interlocutor dismissing a cause by reason only of a provision mentioned in subsection (1) above.'.

Mr. Buchan

This amendment seeks to clear up what I regard as an anomaly arising out of the favourable response of the Government to my new clause in Committee. This would remove my last remaining doubts. I should like to hear a word of confirmation that it meets all the points that I put.

We have had two or three months of fairly heavy slogging in which we have been saying things that were not exactly nice about the Solicitor-General and the Under-Secretary, so I should like to take this opportunity to thank them for the response to my amendments, which, I suspect, will be favourable.

Mr. Bruce Millan () Glasgow, Craigton

I did not have the good fortune to serve on the Committee, so I did not have the unusual experience of Ministers being helpful. I believe that this is an admirable clause and the amendment qualifies the remaining doubt about it. I, too, am grateful to the Government.

The Solicitor-General for Scotland (Mr. Nicholas Fairbairn)

I welcome the generous plaudits of the hon. Member for Renfrewshire, West (Mr. Buchan) and the right hon. Member for Glasgow, Craigton (Mr. Millan), who did not serve on the Committee but who had a great interest in it. This is an important amendment which I hope will assist us to do justice in situations in which justice may previously not have been done. Subject always to the concepts of equity and the controls of the court which will be contained in the Bill under the amendments introduced by the hon. Member for Renfrewshire, West, the Government are happy to give their endorsement of these amendments and to hope that justice will be done.

Amendment agreed to.

Amendment made: No. 3, in page 17, line 6, at end insert '; but the expression does not include an interlocutor dismissing a cause by reason only of a provision mentioned in subsection (1) above.'.—[Mr. Buchan.]

Bill accordingly read the Third time and passed, with amendments.