§ Order of the Day for the Second Reading read.
§ 5.0 p.m.
§ THE LORD CHANCELLOR (VISCOUNT CALDECOTE)My Lords, I have to ask your Lordships to give this Bill a Second Reading. It is the counterpart for Northern Ireland of the Administration of Justice (Emergency Provisions) Act recently passed as applying to England and Wales. Similar legislation has also been passed applying to Scotland. As your Lordships are familiar with the pro- 1099 visions of those measures I can summarise very briefly the proposals of this Bill. The first five clauses enable variations to be made in the arrangements for sittings of the Courts. The next three clauses deal with the juries that may be required to try civil cases and to serve on inquests. Clause 10 provides that no vacancies need be filled in the Judiciary of the Supreme Court unless the Lord Chief justice certifies that it is necessary having regard to the state of business. The last clause of the Bill limits its duration to the present emergency. 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.