HL Deb 25 April 1918 vol 29 cc857-8

Order of the Day for the House to be put into Committee, read.

Moved, That the House do now resolve itself into Committee.—(The Lord Chancellor).

On Question, Motion agreed to.

House in Committee accordingly.

[The EARL of KINTORE in the Chair.]

Clauses 1 to 11 agreed to.

THE LORD CHANCELLOR (LORD FINLAY)

My Lords, I move the insertion, after Clause 11, of the new clause standing in my name. As it shows on the face of it, it is merely to remove a difficulty as to evidence. It is, of course, proper that any documents under the Air Force Act should be admissible in proceedings under the Army Act, and vice versa. The difficulty has transpired at a late stage, and it is for that reason that this necessary clause is moved in your Lordships' House.

Amendment moved— After Clause 11 insert the following new clause:

"Amendment of s. 163 (1) of the Army Act.

".—(1) The following paragraph shall be added at the end of subsection (1) of section one hundred and sixty-three of the Army Act: '(k) Any document which would have been admissible in any proceeding under the Air Force Act by virtue of section one hundred and sixty-three of that Act shall in like manner and for the same purpose be admissible in evidence under this Act.'

"(2) This section shall, notwithstanding any thing in section fourteen of the Army (Annual) Act, 1904, come into operation both within the British Isles and elsewhere on the passing of this Act."— (The Lord chancelior.)

On Question, Amendment agreed to.

Remaining clause and Schedule agreed to.

Standing Order No. XXXIX considered (according to Order), and dispensed with.

Report of Amendment received; Bill read 3a and passed, and returned to the Commons.