HL Deb 20 July 1897 vol 51 cc514-5

On the Motion for the Third Reading of this Bill,

*THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR WAR (The Marquess of LANSDOWNE )

said that since the Bill was last before the House he had considered the suggestion of Lord Herschel), and he was advised that the adoption of his Amendment would leave the Volunteer Corps sufficient power for the recovery of fines. The Amendment of the noble and learned Lord permitted of the recovery of fines by complaint to a Court of summary jurisdiction, which would be sufficient for the purpose the War Office had in view.

Bill Read the Third time.

Clause 1,—

EXPLANATION OF 26 & 27 VICT. C. 65, ss. 24, 27.

For removing doubts it is hereby declared that the power under Section twenty-four of the Volunteer Act 1863, to make rules with respect to a Volunteer corps shall extend, and be deemed to have always extended, to rules for securing the efficiency of the members of the corps, and that a fine for the breach of any such rule for securing efficiency shall not be deemed to be a civil debt.

LORD HERSCHELL

s moved to omit the words "not be deemed to be a civil debt," and to insert the words: "be a sum of money recoverable on complaint to a Court of summary jurisdiction."

Amendment agreed to; Bill passed, and returned to the Commons.