HC Deb 31 October 1995 vol 265 cc200-1

Not amended (in the Standing Committee), considered.

Order for Third Reading read.

9.52 pm
The Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department (Mr. John M. Taylor)

I beg to move, That the Bill be now read the Third time.

I am sure that, once again, the House would wish to join me in thanking the law commissions—I must be careful to put that in the plural—for their careful and thorough work.

9.52 pm
Mr. Paul Boateng (Brent, South)

This is a measure that has received careful and detailed consideration in another place and, albeit of necessity, less detailed but nevertheless careful consideration in Committee in this House.

We have had a number of concerns, not least in relation to the impact of the legislation on the freedom of expression. We have also quite properly made known our concern to ensure that the Bill does not in any way enable the impact of foreign jurisdictions and foreign law to inhibit such freedoms in this country. We are satisfied that the Bill in its current form has met those objections. We thank the Law Commission for the work it has done, and we are grateful for the detailed consideration given to the Bill in another place. We give the Bill a fair wind tonight.

Question put and agreed to.

Bill accordingly read the Third time, and passed.