§ THE MINISTER OF STATE, HOME OFFICE (LORD DERWENT)My Lords, I beg to introduce a Bill to amend the form of the special verdict required by Section 2 of the Trial of Lunatics Act, 1883, and the procedure for determining whether an accused person is under a disability such as to constitute a bar to his being tried; to provide for an appeal against such a special verdict or a finding that the accused is under such a disability; to confer on the court of trial and the Court of Criminal Appeal further powers of making orders for admission to hospital; to empower the prosecution to put forward evidence of insanity or diminished responsibility; and for purposes connected with the matters aforesaid. I beg to move that the Bill be now read a first time.
§ Moved, That the Bill be now read la.—(Lord Derwent.)
§ On Question, Bill read la, and to be printed.