§ THE LORD CHANCELLOR (LORD GARDINER)My Lords, I beg leave to introduce a Bill to increase the jurisdiction of county courts and to amend the County Courts Act 1959; to make further provision for appeals from the High Court (whether in England and Wales or in Northern Ireland) to the House of Lords; to enable wills and codicils to be made for mentally disordered persons; to make provision for interim payments to be made where proceedings are pending, and for conferring powers to be exercisable by the court before the commencement of an action; to enable any jurisdiction of the High Court to be assigned to two or more Divisions concurrently; to change the title and qualification of clerks to registrars of the Chancery Division; to make further provision with respect to miscellaneous matters, that is to say, certain employments in the offices of the Supreme Court, records of grants of probate and grants of administration, admission as a public notary, pension rights and related matters in connection with certain judicial offices, 32 and the stipend and fees of the Chancellor of the County Palatine of Durham; to extend the legislative power of the Parliament of Northern Ireland with respect to grand juries and indictments; 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.—(The Lord Chancellor.)
§ On Question, Bill read la, and to be printed.