§ 3.5 p.m.
§ VISCOUNT DILHORNEMy Lords, I beg leave to ask the first Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
§ [The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government when it is proposed to introduce legislation to implement the recommendations of the Interdepartmental Committee on the Court of Criminal Appeal.]
§ THE LORD CHANCELLOR (LORD GARDINER)My Lords, as my noble friend Lord Stonham told the House on November 24, the Government have accepted the recommendations of this Committee, and the necessary legislation will be introduced as soon as possible. To this, I am only able to add that the necessary Bill is now in process of being drafted.
§ VISCOUNT DILHORNEMy Lords, I thank the noble and learned Lord the Lord Chancellor for that good news. I should like to ask him whether he does not think it would probably be helpful to have a debate in this House on the Committee's Report at a fairly early date, because although there are no Party views with regard to it, I know that doubts are held in certain quarters upon some of the recommendations. It might facilitate the passage of the Bill if we had such a debate and the Government had the opportunity of taking into consideration the arguments advanced before presenting the Bill in its final form. I am suggesting this to the noble and learned Lord simply to find out whether he thinks that that would be a helpful course.
§ THE LORD CHANCELLORThe noble and learned Viscount can, of 1144 course, put this suggestion forward through the usual channels. I should have hoped that the Bill might be introduced soon enough to make it not really worth while to have a discussion on the Report first.