§ House in Committee (according to Order). Bill reported without Amendment. Standing Committee negatived.
§ THE SECRETARY FOR SCOTLAND (Lord BALFOUR Of BURLEIGH)My Lords, in pursuance of the promise I gave to the House last week, the Amendments which I then indicated have been prepared, and also in pursuance of that promise I propose now to move to insert them, and subsequently, if that is agreed to, to recommit the Bill. I hope that these Amendments have covered the whole, or nearly the whole of the ground of the main objections taken to the Bill by the legal societies. I need only, I think, refer to one of the questions concerned, because I do not propose at this stage, and without further consideration, to strike out Clause 8, to which great exception has undoubtedly been taken. That clause is the one which deals with the proposed discontinuance of the printed index of places in the search register. Objection to that clause is taken by many of the legal societies, but I think I may say that it practically amounts to this, that the index of places has served a useful purpose in the past, and has been of great assistance to that portion of the public who have not the search sheet available, except by favour of the officials of the Register House. The societies, I know, consider that the discontinuance of this index would hamper the public to some extent in their examination of the registers, and especially on the ground that there is no provision that the public should now have access to the search sheet index. On the other hand, Lord Low's Committee were of opinion that this index should be abolished on the ground that the cost of it is wholly out of proportion to its usefulness at the present time, and its abolition was recommended by that Committee. I believe myself, and I am assured by those who know better than I do, that the index of places in the search sheet is really sufficient for all purposes. I believe also that a great part of the objection which has been taken to 1329 this clause is met by the fact that the index of names will not be abolished under the Bill as I am now proposing to amend it. I hope, therefore, that further consideration may be given to the subject, and if at subsequent stages it is still desired to strike the present Clause 8 out of the Bill, I will carefully consider what is said on both sides. I do not close the door to further compromise on that point, but I hope it will not be pressed without further and much fuller consideration than has been given to it heretofore. I beg to move that these Amendments be now inserted.
§ Amendments made. Bill recommitted to a Committee of the Whole House; and to be printed as amended.