RULE COMMITTEE BILL [H.L.] (Hansard, 23 April 1907)

§ THE LORD CHANCELLOR

My Lords, this Bill received a Second Reading last year and passed through your Lordships' House. Its object is a very modest one. It is to provide that there should be two solicitors on the Rule Committee instead of one. I might have hoped that so unambitious a project would have succeeded in obtaining legislative sanction, but it was found impracticable in the other House to pass it last session. I cannot help feeling that there is inconvenience to public Departments through perfectly uncontroversial Bills not being able to secure a passage through Parliament without great difficulty. This is a mere departmental administrative difficulty, and, being of a sanguine temperament, I hope that the Bill may now succeed in obtaining the consent of both Houses of Parliament.

§ LORD ALVERSTONE

My Lords, I desire to support the Second Reading of this Bill. Although, as my noble friend has said, this is a small measure, it is one to which considerable importance is attached by the solicitor branch of the profession. Having worked on the Rule Committee for many years I think it will be a very great advantage if we have a larger number of men on that Committee who are acquainted with the practical working of the administration of justice from the solicitor's point of view. I sincerely trust the Bill will pass. I think there is a slip in Clause I which will require attention. It is provided that the persons in whom the power of making Rules of Court under the Judicature Acts is vested shall include four persons, but only three are described. When the Bill is in Committee I think it will be necessary to put in some definition of the fourth person who is to be added to the Committee.