§ [No. 50.]
§
Schedule 2, page 31, line 21, at end insert:—
5. At the end of Schedule 8 to the Administration of Justice Act 1970 (maintenance
1202
orders to which Part II of that Act applies) there shall be inserted the following paragraph:—
'10. An order for periodical or other payments made under Part I of the Matrimonial Proceedings and Property Act 1970'.
§ THE LORD CHANCELLORMy Lords, I beg to move that this House doth agree with the Commons in their Amendment No. 50. This Amendment includes orders for periodical payments made under Part I of the Bill in the orders to which the enforcement provisions of the Administration of Justice Bill 1970, now awaiting Royal Assent, apply. I beg to move.
§ Moved, That this House doth agree with the Commons in the said Amendment.—(The Lord Chancellor.)
VISCOUNT COLVILLE OF CULROSSMy Lords, if it is not improper to suggest it, this will work only if the Administration of Justice Bill receives the Royal Assent before this Bill, because otherwise it will be the wrong way round. But will the noble and learned Lord confirm—I am sure that this is right—that this is part of the material on which he has promised consolidation? There really is nothing more unsatisfactory than having two Bills both receiving the Royal Assent on the same day and one amending the other, because it means to say that we have made the most imperfect job of the first. I hope that this will be cleared up by consolidation, because I should be very unwilling to leave it in this form. May I also suggest that the last three Amendments are drafting and consequential?
§ THE LORD CHANCELLORYes, my Lords; I quite agree. I hope that that course can be taken. The difficulty arises because the Government never know which of two Bills is going to receive the Royal Assent first, and they are sometimes surprised by the one which does. This Bill was very much in the balance all last week; that is to say, whether the Parties as a whole would agree to pass it as it was, or whether the whole thing should be dropped. So I agree with what the noble and learned Viscount has said.
§ On Question, Motion agreed to.