§ 2.31 p.m.
LORD JANNERMy Lords, I beg to move that this Bill be now read a third time. I want to make one or two very short comments.
THE MINISTER OF STATE, HOME OFFICE (VISCOUNT COLVILLE OF CULROSS)My Lords, I wonder whether the noble Lord would like to move the Amendment and then make his comments on the Motion, That the Bill do now pass?
LORD JANNERMy Lords, I would be happy to do that, though my advice was to put it the other way round. Anyhow, I shall be happy to do that if it meets with the approval of your Lordships. I beg to move that this Bill be now read a third time.
§ Moved, That the Bill be now read 3a.—(Lord Janner.)
§ On Question, Bill read 3a.
§ Clause 13 [Accounts]:
§
LORD JANNER moved Amendment No. 1:
Page 5, line 39, leave out ("and Corporate").
§ The noble Lord said: My Lords, I beg to move the Amendment which stands in my name. It is a very simple Amendment made in order to put right 564 an error in the name of the party concerned. Words were inserted which do not really correspond with the present position. The words "and Corporate" are no longer used by that Society. I beg to move.
§ On Question, Amendment agreed to.
LORD JANNERMy Lords, I beg to move that this Bill do now pass, and perhaps at this stage I might say that I am grateful to the Government for the assistance that they have given so far. I am looking forward with considerable pleasure to having their support at a later stage, either on this Bill or on a subsequent occasion when perhaps there is introduced a Bill in a form which may be drafted to their satisfaction. I should like to say that this is an extremely important matter, and has the support of, I think, nearly all the people presently engaged in the business as well as of the public. The protection of the animals concerned, the personnel who look after the animals and the preservation of certain species of animals by means of the terms which are contained in this Bill are matters of extreme importance. I am sorry that there may not perhaps be time in this Session to get the measure through, in which event I shall seek an early opportunity to bring it forward at another stage. I beg to move that the Bill do now pass.
§ Moved, That the Bill do now pass.—(Lord Janner.)
VISCOUNT COLVILLE OF CULROSSMy Lords, I think it is realistic of the noble Lord, Lord Janner, to suppose that there may be problems in getting this Bill on to the Statute Book this Session. I was proposing to write to him and to his noble friend Lord Donaldson of Kingsbridge and my noble friend Lord Cranbrook asking whether they would be good enough to have some further discussions with us about this at the Home Office. There are perhaps still some things that need to be sorted out even apart from the drafting. I am glad to hear the noble Lord say that the measure has the support of virtually everybody involved in the industry; but, there again. I believe that there is room for exploration and for confirmation of what he says. I am not throwing any doubt upon the veracity of his information, but I think there may still be a few wrinkles 565 to iron out in this particular respect. I am therefore very happy to think that the Bill should pass to-day, but I hope that we may have an opportunity before long to discuss with the noble Lord and others involved in this matter some matters of principle, perhaps, and also some nuts and bolts, to see whether we cannot get the thing really straight so that the noble Lord's ambition to have it on the Statute Book can before long be fulfilled.
LORD JANNERMy Lords, if I may be permitted to speak again—I do not quite know whether that is against the Rules of your Lordships' House—I should like to thank the noble Viscount for the manner in which he has spoken. If there are any differences, I think they can be very easily ironed out. I shall certainly take advantage of the kind offer that he has made, and I am sure the other sponsors of the Bill will be happy to do the same.
§ On Question, Bill passed, and sent to the Commons.