§ Order of the Day for the House to be put into Committee, read.
§ *THE MARQUESS OF SALISBURYSince I spoke upon this matter the other day I have succeeded in finding the clause which I could not find before. What had happened was that the clause with respect to escheats which had been put in as a species of compensation in the first Act was divorced from the clause to which it belonged, and banished to a distant part of the Bill where I failed to find it. I have, however, found it since.
§ THE LORD CHANCELLORI asked the noble Marquess what he desired with regard to this Bill. It is simply a Consolidation Bill, and is not intended to make any alteration in the law. A Joint Committee has been appointed by this and the other House to 1602 consider all measures which are merely Consolidation Bills; and, of course, if, in going through this House, a Bill is found not to be simply for consolidation, it will have to be dealt with. Of course, it must undergo rigorous examination, and there can be no objection to referring it to the Committee.
§ *THE MARQUESS OF SALISBURYIf I find anything which seems to be objectionable, I reserve the liberty to mention it at a later stage.
§ THE LORD CHANCELLORThen I move that the Order be discharged.
§ Moved, "That the Order be discharged; and the Order of Thursday last, committing the Bill to a Committee of the Whole House, vacated."—(The Lord Herschell.)
§ Motion agreed to.