§ 2.56 p.m.
§ Order of the Day for the Third Reading read.
§ LORD WINTERBOTTOMMy Lords, I beg to move that this Bill, standing in the name of my noble friend Lord Shackle ton, be now read a third time. Though somewhat complex, the Bill does three main things. It renews the Army Act and the Air Force Act; it brings broadly into line the laws governing enlistment in all three Services, and it revises and consolidates the Statutes governing discipline in all three Services. I am sure that this Bill will be of benefit to all three Services, in whose welfare your Lordships take so much interest. This, if I may say so, was indicated by the constructive criticism of noble Lords opposite during the early stages of this Bill, for which we are grateful. The Bill represents a substantial step forward in bringing the Statutes affecting the Services closer together, and as such I commend it to your Lordships. I beg to move.
§ Moved, That the Bill be now read 3a.—(Lord Winter bottom.)
LORD THURLOWMy Lords, as the noble Lord said, there have been very slight differences between us in regard to this Bill, and my noble friends and I welcome the continuance of the Army Act and the Air Force Act for another year. We also welcome anything that simplifies and brings the laws for the three Services into line, and we shall welcome from time to time other Bills which the Government may well bring before us that will continue this work, so that eventually, perhaps, these complicated and different laws of the three Services can be embodied in one much simpler 1157 manual. So I welcome the Bill and wish all members of the Armed Services all success until we look at their conditions in a year's time.
§ On Question, Bill read 3a, with the Amendments; and passed, and returned to the Commons.