§ Order of the Day for the Second Reading read.
§ THE LORD CHANCELLOR (VISCOUNT BIRKENHEAD)My Lords, in rising to move the Second Reading of this Bill I shall discharge that duty very shortly, because, as I understand, this is a Bill agreed by all parties in the House, of 882 Commons. While Grand Juries were suspended under the Grand Juries (Suspension) Act, 1917, under which an indictment might be presented against any person who had been committed for trial without having been found by a Grand Jury, the Court of Criminal Appeal allowed an appeal in what is known as the "Mirror" case, on the ground that there had been no committal, as required by the Act of 1917. This is merely a Bill to deal with this technicality. I beg to move.
§ Moved. That the Bill be now read 2a.— (The Lord Chancellor.)
§ On Question, Bill read 2a, and committed to a Committee of the Whole House.