THE LORD BISHOP OF LONDONMy Lords, I wish to ask His Majesty's Government whether they will be able to grant facilities for the passing of the Criminal Law Amendment Bill this session. I do so for two reasons. I have thought it necessary to wait until the last day before the holidays, hoping that some announcement might be made, because, although many private members of the other House wished to raise the matter, I did not want them to take action if the Government were going to do so. Then the provisions of this Bill have already passed through Second Reading three times in this House, and finally without a Division. I made two or three important concessions 302 in order that it might be an agreed Bill. Therefore, I hope that as an agreed Bill the Government will give it facilities in another place.
THE EARL OF CRAWFORDMy Lords, so far as the Government are concerned the value of the Bill to which the right rev. Prelate refers is clearly and readily acknowledged. As the right rev. Prelate has stated, it has passed through this House with very little opposition, and finally, after certain concessions had been made, it may be said to have been accepted by your Lordships as an agreed measure. I am afraid that that does not quite dispose of the problem, because what has proved non-controversial in this House may perhaps become controversial elsewhere; but if the Bill should continue to maintain its non-controversial aspect elsewhere, the Government will gladly do its best, at a later stage in the session, to make an effort to pass it into law. At present, as Mr. Chamberlain, the Leader of the House of Commons, stated the other day, no very definite indication can be given owing to the fact that there is a considerably pressure on the time of the House of Commons, but if the right rev. Prelate can make certain that the Bill will be non-controversial, so far as I am concerned I hope there is very good reason for thinking that the Government may be able to give it facilities.