§ Mr. John Morris (Aberavon)I beg to move amendment No. 8, in page 22, line 37, at end insert:
`(2A) Regulations made pursuant to subsection (1) above shall be made either,and in respect of any area specified in such regulations only one set of experimental regulations may be made.'. We went over this ground in Committee. The object of the amendment is to ensure that there is ample opportunity for the House to consider and approve any permanent regulation and to limit temporary regulations for an experimental period. I thought in Committee that the Minister was showing some sympathy with the idea. I am glad that the amendment has been selected. I want to be sure that the Government will give an assurance that the House will have an opportunity to consider the proposals that emanate following the experiments that are now taking place.
- (a) as experimental regulations, which regulations shall be expressed to apply for a period not longer than 18 months; or
- (b) as permanent regulations, which regulations shall be made by statutory instrument requiring an affirmative resolution of the House of Commons,
§ Mr. MellorAs the right hon. and learned Member for Aberavon (Mr. Morris) has said, I have considerable sympathy with his point. The only obstacle that stands in the way of acceptance of the amendment is the possibility that, as a result of the field trials, we may well think it expedient to introduce perhaps as many as half a dozen different time limits to cover different parts of the country. Obviously, circumstances vary from area to area. A time limit would be pointless unless it was specifically geared to the part of the country in question and toned up the system there.
I suggest that if a number of different time limit orders were needed, or they needed to be changed, it might be oppressive to require an affirmative resolution each time. Plainly, it would be a good idea to ensure that we had at least one debate, and possibly more. I give an undertaking to the right hon. and learned Gentleman that I shall ensure that he is informed when we are ready to lay these orders. Arrangements can be made for a debate the first time and on subsequent occasions, if the right hon. and learned Gentleman wishes. It may well be that after one or two occasions it would not be thought necessary that a change had to be made each time. I hope that, on that basis, the right hon. and learned Gentleman will feel able to withdraw the amendment.
§ Mr. John MorrisOn the basis of that assurance, I beg to ask leave to withdraw the amendment.
§ Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.
11.45 pm§ Mr. MellorI beg to move amendment No. 9, in page 24, line 44, at end insert—
'(12A) For the purposes of section 29(3) of the Supreme Court Act 1981 (High Court to have power to make prerogative orders in relation to jurisdiction of Crown Court in matters which do not relate to trial on indictment) the jurisdiction conferred on the Crown Court by this section shall be taken to be part of its jurisdiction in matters other than those relating to trial on indictment.'.I trailed this amendment in Committee. It does what I said then we intended to do. On that basis, I hope that it will be acceptable to the House.
§ Amendment agreed to.