§ Order of the Day for the Third Reading read.
§ 5.12 p.m.
§ THE PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY, MINISTRY OF WORKS (LORD MORRISON)My Lords, I beg to move that this Bill be now read a third time.
Moved, That the Bill be now read 3a.—(Lord Morrison.)
§ THE LORD CHANCELLOR (VISCOUNT JOWITT)My Lords, before putting the Motion for the Third Reading, I have it in command from His Majesty to signify to the House that His Majesty, having been informed of the purport of the Criminal Justice (Scotland) Bill, has been pleased to place at the disposal of Parliament the interests of the Crown in so far as they are affected by the said Bill.
§ On Question, Bill read 3a.
§ Clause 19 [Borstal Training]:
§ LORD MORRISON moved, in subsection (2), to leave out all words from and including "subject" to the end of subsection (2). The noble Lord said: My Lords, this is a drafting Amendment consequential upon the Amendments made at the Report stage to subsection (2) of Clause 56. I beg to move.
§
Amendment moved—
Page 13, line 27, leave out from ("Act") to the end of subsection (2).—(Lord Morrison.)
§ On Question, Amendment agreed to.
§ Clause 70 [Expenses and grants payable out of moneys provided by Parliament]:
§
LORD MORRISON moved to add to the clause, after subsection (6):
(7) Any increase attributable to this Act in the sums payable out of moneys provided
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by Parliament under Part II of the Local Government Act, 1948, shall be defrayed out of moneys so provided.
The noble Lord said: My Lords, this Amendment is required to ensure that payments made by local authorities under the Bill shall rank for Exchequer equalisation grant under the Local Government Act of 1948. It is in common form. I beg to move.
§
Amendment moved—
Page 47, line 40, at end insert the said sub-section.—(Lord Morrison.)
§ On Question, Amendment agreed to.
§ Amendments (Privilege) made.
§ LORD MORRISONMy Lords, I beg to move that the Bill do now pass.
§ Moved, That the Bill do now pass.—(Lord Morrison.)
§ THE EARL OF SELKIRKMy Lords, may I refer to one of the points raised in the Committee stage? This Criminal Justice (Scotland) Bill, is, of course, only part of the story; the rest of the story is contained, though not extensively, in the English Criminal Justice Act which was passed last Session. I suggested in Committee that a short-circuiting method should be employed for introducing part of that Act into this Bill, but the noble and learned Viscount who sits on the Woolsack thought that that method was objectionable. I am bound to admit that when I examined more closely the arguments advanced by the noble and learned Viscount, I came to see that there was great force in them. The Lord Chancellor said he did not see why it should take an indefinite time to bring about the final consolidation of the Criminal Justice Act affecting Scotland. I cannot say that I hope to obtain a promise from him, but I would like to press him that so far as possible he will see that the matter is expedited. I am sure he appreciates the inconvenience of the administration of criminal justice in Scotland coming under two Acts.
§ THE LORD CHANCELLORMy Lords, as the noble Earl was good enough to say that he was almost convinced by what I said on the previous occasion, I feel that I must do my best to meet him now. I cannot give him any promise, for, as I said before, to do so would be far more than my place is worth. On the other hand I give him my sympathy, and I will put this measure before those who 985 are concerned to consider the order in which we undertake our consolidation. He will realise that there is rather a long queue of Bills waiting for consolidation, but I should think that the consolidation here involved would be comparatively simple and would not take very long. Therefore, not only will I put this Bill in the queue, but I shall see if I can jump it up a few places. I cannot say more than that. The noble Earl has the satisfaction of knowing that he has my sympathy and I have told him what I will endeavour to do.
§ On Question, Bill passed, and sent to the Commons.