§ 2.43 p.m.
§ THE LORD CHANCELLORMy Lords, I have it in command from Her Majesty the Queen to acquaint the House that Her Majesty, having been informed of the purport of the Animals Bill, has consented to place Her interest, so far as it is concerned on behalf of the Crown, at the disposal of Parliament for the purposes of this Bill.
My Lords, I beg to move that this Bill be now read a third time. Owing to the rather happy way in which this Bill has now passed its Committee and Report stages I do not propose to weary your Lordships with a speech, but I should like to thank those noble Lords who have been so helpful in showing an interest in this Bill. We started with a useful law reform measure; I think that we now have an even better one, and I hope it will have a fortunate passage in another place. I beg to move.
§ Moved, That the Bill be now read 3a.—(The Lord Chancellor.)
§ LORD GARDINERMy Lords, may I thank the noble and learned Lord the Lord Chancellor for his patient consideration of the various suggestions made at different stages of this Bill? I think we can say that the Bill which now leaves this House is very nearly as good as the Bill which left this House in the last Session of the last Parliament.
§ LORD SHACKLETONMy Lords, before the noble and learned Lord finally puts the Question, may I say that we on these Benches are very gratified to see the way in which the noble and learned Lord who now sits on the Woolsack and his predecessor have co-operated in continuing his good work.
§ On Question, Bill read 3a, and passed, and sent to the Commons.