§ 7.27 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 Sex Discrimination Bill, has consented to place Her prerogative and interest so far as they are affected by the Bill at the disposal of Parliament for the purposes of the Bill.
§ BARONESS SEEARMy Lords, I beg to move that this Bill be now read a third time.
§ Moved, That the Bill be now read 3£. —(Baroness Seear.)
§ LORD SHACKLETONMy Lords, before we leave the Bill, I think we should congratulate the noble Baroness, unless she is going to make her speech on the Motion, That the Bill do now pass. Perhaps she is, in which case I shall sit down again. But if she is not, I think 728 we should congratulate her. I believe she has had a bit of help from us all; and I hope that this will be a firm encouragement to the Government to do at least as well as, if not better than, we have done in the case of this Bill.
§ BARONESS EMMET OF AMBERLEYMy Lords, may I, from this side of the House, echo what the noble Lord from the Front Bench opposite has just said? We on this side are also delighted to hear that the Bill is now about to be passed.
§ BARONESS SEEARMy Lords, that was as agreeable as it was unexpected.
§ On Question, Bill read 3ª.
§ An Amendment (Privilege) made; Bill passed, and sent to the Commons.