HL Deb 04 June 1959 vol 216 cc768-9

9.6 p.m.

Order of the Day for the House to be put into Committee read.

Moved, That the House do now resolve itself into Committee.—(The Lord Chancellor).

On Question, Motion agreed to.

House in Committee accordingly.

[The LORD TERRINGTON in the Chair.]

Clause 1 agreed to.

Clause 2 [Provision for acting metropolitan stipendiary magistrates]:

LORD MESTON

I beg to move the Amendment standing in my name. The object of this Amendment is to empower the noble and learned Viscount the Lord Chancellor, in his discretion, to appoint a qualified person to a temporary post, notwithstanding any question of age limit. I beg to move.

Amendment moved—

Page 1, line 17, leave out from first ("a") to ("during") in line 18 and insert ("barrister of not less than seven years' standing or a solicitor of the Supreme Court of the like standing, to act as a metropolitan stipendiary magistrate").—(Lord Meston.)

THE LORD CHANCELLOR

I am quite prepared to accept this Amendment. It is permissive, and gives me the power to do it without laying any duty upon me. In that spirit I am prepared to advise your Lordships to accept it.

LORD MESTON

I am grateful to the noble and learned Viscount the Lord Chancellor for having accepted the Amendment.

On Question, Amendment agreed to.

Clause 2, as amended, agreed to.

Remaining clauses agreed to.

Schedule agreed to.

House resumed.