§ Order of the Day for the Second Reading read.
§ THE LORD CHANCELLORMy Lords, in moving the Second Reading of this Bill I ought, I think, briefly to inform your Lordships of its object. It is to devise a remedy for the state of things which will arise when the Official Solicitor retires, which he intends to do. The practice has grown up in the last few years of making the Official Solicitor by virtue of his office Receiver in Lunacy, guardian ad litem, or next friend, to take proceedings on behalf of a litigant, and I suppose his commitments in these various capacities amount to a good deal. If the Official Solicitor retires without statutory provision being made for the cases that will arise it will be necessary in many instances for fresh appointments to be made, resulting in heavy charges on very small estates. The convenient course is taken by this Bill of enabling his successor to carry out these various commitments.
§ Moved, That the Bill be now read 2a.—(The Lord Chancellor.)
§ On Question, Bill read 2a, and committed of the Whole House.