§ 2.40 p.m.
§ THE LORD CHANCELLOR (LORD GARDINER)My Lords, I beg to move the first Motion standing in my name on the Order Paper. This and the succeeding Motion relate to appointments to the Appellate Committee and the Appeal Committee which, as your Lordships know, are sessional Committees which have to be reappointed at the beginning of each Session. The Appellate Committee is, of course, the Committee which hears appeals referred to it by your Lordships' House. The Appeal Committee is the Committee which considers applications and Petitions for leave to appeal. Any noble Lords who are qualified to serve are, in fact, appointed to both Committees. I beg to move.
Moved, That this House, in discharge of its constitutional duty to act as the 30 ultimate tribunal in appeals from England, Scotland and Northern Ireland, orders that two Committees, each of which shall include all Lords qualified under Section 5 of the Appellate Jurisdiction Act 1876, as amended by any subsequent enactment, be appointed to consider, during the present Session, such Petitions as may be referred to them and other matters relating to Causes depending in this House, and to Causes formerly depending in this House; and all other matters relating thereto; and that the Committees do appoint their own chairmen; and that, in pursuance of Section 1 of the Administration of Justice Act 1960, in all Appeals in which the leave of this House is required under that Act, the Petition or Application for leave to appeal shall, after being received by this House, be referred to one of such Committees as aforesaid, and such Committee may, after consideration whether such leave should be granted, take its decision and give directions accordingly on behalf of the House—(The Lord Chancellor.)
§ On Question, Motion agreed to, and ordered accordingly.