§ 7.13 p.m.
§ Order of the Day for the Second Reading read.
§ THE LORD CHANCELLORMy Lords, I beg to move that this Bill be now read a Second time. The Bill consolidates the law relating to divorce and other matrimonial causes which is at present contained in the Supreme Court of Judicature (Consolidation) Act, 1925, the Matrimonial Causes Act, 1937—perhaps better known to your Lordships as the Herbert Act—and the Law Reform (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act of last year. The law is at present difficult to find, particularly as much of it is contained in the Judicature Act, which deals primarily with the constitution and procedure of the Supreme Court, which is not the place in which one would expect to find the substantive law dealing with a subject like divorce and nullity of marriage. This Bill, like the Adoption Bill to which your Lordships have just given a Second Reading, also contains minor amendments of the law, made in accordance with the Consolidation of Enactments (Procedure) Act, but I do not think that I need trouble your Lordships at this stage with the detail of these Amendments which are fully explained in the Memorandum which has been laid before your Lordships. I beg to move.
§ Moved, That the Bill be now read 2a.—(The Lord Chancellor.)
§ On Question, Bill read 2a, and Bill (together with the Memorandum laid before the House on May 26 last, and any representations made with respect thereto under the Consolidation of Enactments (Procedure) Act, 1949), referred to the' Joint Committee on Consolidation Bills.