JUDICATURE (NORTHERN IRELAND) BILL [H.L.]

HL Deb 02 March 1978 vol 389 cc621-82

Report received.

Clause 2 [The High Court]:

Lord BELSTEAD moved Amendment No. 1: Page 2, line 8, leave out ("five") and insert ("six").

The noble Lord said: My Lords, I beg to move Amendment No. 1. Clause 2(1) provides that the High Court of Northern Ireland shall consist of not more than five puisne judges together with the Lord Chief Justice who shall be the President of the Court.

The main purpose of the Bill is to restructure the courts of Northern Ireland based on three valuable reports which were prepared in Northern Ireland. Parts I to IV of the Bill relate to the Supreme Court and are based upon the report from the Committee under the chairmanship of the former Lord Chief Justice, Lord MacDermott, and which included the present Lord Chief Justice, Sir Robert Lowry.

Because the MacDermott Report recorded a sharp increase in the number of actions disposed of by the Supreme Court 10 years ago, when that report was published, and because, as all noble Lords will know, the Northern Ireland Judiciary is working under considerable pressure dealing with criminal cases, scheduled offences and civil actions, I put down an Amendment in Committee to increase the maximum number of puisne judges from five to six. In reply, the noble and learned Lord the Lord Chancellor pointed out that, because the Lord Chief Justice and the Appeal Judges also undertake first instance work of all kinds in Northern Ireland and because the number of sitting days in the courts has recently been increased, the Amendment should not prove necessary.

However, since then, the Government have been good enough to furnish me with figures showing the number of actions set down and disposed of in the Queen's Bench Division of the High Court during the last 10 years, and there is no doubt that the figures show that the pressure of work in Northern Ireland last year was more than four times heavier than in 1968. That is really a remarkable increase.

In addition, the noble and learned Lord the Lord Chancellor has been good enough to write to me indicating that he has been giving further consideration to the matter of the number of puisne judges in Northern Ireland and that he would welcome the opportunity to give the Government's conclusions at this stage of the Bill. For those reasons, I have again ventured to put down Amendment No. 1 on the Marshalled List for the Report stage of the Bill. The Amendment will have the effect of increasing the number of puisne judges in Northern Ireland from five to six. I think that, in the light of the letter which the noble and learned Lord was good enough to write to me, it may be possible that the Government will find that Amendment No. 1 is acceptable to them. I beg to move.

The LORD CHANCELLOR (Lord Elwyn-Jones)

My Lords, I am sorry that I was taken somewhat by surprise at the speed of the earlier legislation. I congratulate my noble friend Lord Harris of Greenwich upon the expedition which he has effected. I can only hope that we shall make equally speedy progress with the Bill now before your Lordships.

At the Committee stage, we discussed a similar Amendment and I then indicated that I was unwilling to raise the maximum number of judges in the High Court in the way suggested. But since then I have had further information about the increase in the volume of civil business in the High Court which has taken place in the course of the last few years. A few figures may illustrate the problem. Between 1968 and 1974, the number of actions set down for trial in the Queen's Bench Division fluctuated between 786 and 1,336, but in 1975 2,017 actions were set down for trial. In 1976 the figure was 2,333 and there was a slight drop in 1977.

Why this increase happened is not known, but it has resulted in substantial arrears. The judges and all the others concerned in the Supreme Court have tried to cope with the backlog of work by sitting an extra 20 days a year—and, if I may be permitted to say so, that is an interesting and admirable precedent. As a result of their efforts, the arrears have fallen slightly compared with the number at the same time last year, but the signs are that the flow of cases will continue at its present high level.

At present, there are four judges of the High Court but, as I explained earlier, judges of the Court of Appeal help out by hearing cases at first instance. Moreover, there are other factors which can limit the amount of work of which the High Court is capable of disposing, but it would clearly be most unfortunate if at some future time the limit on the number of judges were to prove to be the main bottleneck, if that is not too irreverent a way to describe a lack of judges. Therefore, I have come to the conclusion that it would be desirable to have the slightly increased room for manoeuvre which the Amendment moved by the noble Lord, Lord Belstead, would provide. I do not think that I need make an additional appointment to the High Court at present, but it would, I think, be useful to have this power in reserve. Accordingly, I am happy to accept the Amendment.

Viscount BROOKEBOROUGH

My Lords, I should very much like to welcome the acceptance by the Government of this Amendment. I am quite sure that it would be wrong to throttle justice by not allowing the noble and learned Lord the Lord Chancellor to have the ability to appoint a further judge of the High Court if he felt it to be necessary and if he felt that the back-up operation for deciding the cases at the right time was available. If they became available and it would shorten the list, I am sure that it would be right to provide for a sixth judge.

Lord BELSTEAD

My Lords, I should like to add my thanks to the noble and learned Lord for accepting this Amendment.

On Question, Amendment agreed to.

Clause 3 [The Court of Appeal]:

Lord MELCHETT moved Amendment No. 2: Page 2, line 28, leave out ("and privileges").

The noble Lord said: My Lords, this is purely a drafting Amendment. I beg to move.

On Question, Amendment agreed to.

Clause 5 [Divisions of the High Court]:

The LORD CHANCELLOR moved Amendment No. 3: Page 3, line 14, leave out ("on the recommendation of the Lord Chief Justice.").

The noble and learned Lord said: My Lords, it may be convenient in speaking to this Amendment if I describe the purpose behind this and several similar Amendments which I shall be moving later. In accordance with the undertaking which I gave at the Committee stage, I have tabled a large number of Amendments—the first of which we shall be coming to shortly—to transfer responsibility for the administration of the courts in Northern Ireland from the Secretary of State to the Lord Chancellor.

As I explained at that time, that change has also necessitated another look at the balance of responsibilities between other authorities named in the Bill, and in particular between the Lord Chancellor and the Lord Chief Justice. In doing this, my officials and I have had regard particularly to the experience gained by my Office during the six years since the Courts Act 1971 came into operation, which is particularly relevant because in many respects this Bill reflects for Northern Ireland what has been done for England and Wales in and since the Act of 1971 and in other subsequent legislation. Although I shall explain briefly each Amendment which is of this type—that is, which has been prompted by the shift in ministerial responsibility that I have mentioned, but which is not directly consequential upon it—I hope that this preliminary explanation may be of assistance to the House.

The present Amendment relates to the alteration of the divisions of the High Court. Under the Bill as it stands at present, it would have been for the Secretary of State to advise Her Majesty to make an Order under Clause 5(2), but he would not have been able to do so save on the recommendation of the Lord Chief Justice. With a change in ministerial responsibility, it will be for the Lord Chancellor to advise Her Majesty, and in these circumstances it seems appropriate to remove the statutory requirement of a recommendation from the Lord Chief Justice. As a matter of practice, however, the Lord Chancellor would be in close consultation with the Lord Chief Justice and would seek his advice in any matter of importance like this in relation to the Supreme Court. May I add that I have the supreme satisfaction of knowing that the Lord Chief Justice has approved of every Amendment which I shall be moving in the course of this afternoon's proceedings, which is a matter of great strength and comfort to me and I hope some reassurance to your Lordships. I beg to move.

Lord BELSTEAD

My Lords, in moving this Amendment the noble and learned Lord was good enough to refer to the general point that he had decided and announced at the Committee stage of the Bill that it would be right for the Lord Chancellor to be responsible for the court service in Northern Ireland and that, as a result, a very long list of Amendments to this Bill are necessary and other Amendments also which have arisen in the judgment of the Government in a connected nature. This is one such Amendment. The first of the Amendments which we shall come to which actually transfers the responsibility for the court service in Northern Ireland from the Secretary of State to the Lord Chancellor is Amendment No. 7. It might be for the convenience of the House if I said that the noble and learned Lord's office has been good enough to furnish me with a list of all these Amendments to which the noble and learned Lord has referred, and so far as they lie within my capabilities, having gone through them I am in agreement with them all. I should like to thank the noble and learned Lord not only for his decision but for the speed and care with which the alterations have been made to the Bill.

The Lord CHANCELLOR

My Lords, I am most grateful to the noble Lord for that intervention which, if I may say so, is characteristic of him.

On Question, Amendment agreed to.

Clause 6 [Judges of one court empowered to assist another].

4.3 p.m.

The LORD CHANCELLOR moved Amendment No. 4: Page 3, line 30, leave out subsection (3).

The noble and learned Lord said: My Lords, with this Amendment I shall also speak to Amendment No. 6. This pair of Amendments has the effect of transferring from the Lord Chief Justice to the Lord Chancellor—and I hope that I may be forgiven for referring to the Lord Chancellor as such throughout these observations; it sounds appallingly conceited but it is probably more convenient and less confusing because it is to the holder of the office that I am referring; it may well be that I shall continue to have that privilege for a little time yet, but that is the explanation at any rate of what appears perhaps at first sight to be a series of vanities of which I am guilty-the function of asking county court judges to sit and act as High Court Judges when it is necessary to do so. These Amendments also transfer this provision from Clause 6 to Clause 7. Clause 7 is the one which deals with the Lord Chancellor's requests and appointments.

The Lord Chief Justice will retain the responsibility for making requests to judges of the Supreme Court under Clause 6(1) and (2). A county court judge who is sitting and acting as a judge of the High Court by virtue of this provision will be able to deal with not only cases in the High Court itself but also those classes of cases in the Crown Court which are designated for trial by a High Court judge. I beg to move.

On Question, Amendment agreed to.

Clause 7 [Further assistance for transaction of judicial business]:

The LORD CHANCELLOR moved Amendment No. 5: Page 3, line 35, leave out from ("and") to ("or") in line 37 and insert ("before his appointment to that office had practised for not less than ten years at the Bar of Northern Ireland;")

The noble and learned Lord said: My Lords, with this Amendment it may be convenient if I also discuss Amendments Nos. 9 and 67 dealing with a similar drafting point. They make no change of substance but improve the drafting. May I make this general observation. There will be a number of subsequent drafting Amendments, and for the saving of time it may suffice for my noble friend and I to say so when we come to those Amendments. Of course, if any matters arising on the Amendments call for explanation by any noble Lord my noble friend and I will endeavour to answer the query.

So far as this Amendment is concerned, as the Bill stands the qualification of a Lord of Appeal in Ordinary in Clauses 7 and 9 is that before his appointment as such he was qualified for appointment as a judge in the High Court. If, as is quite possible, he was at that time a Lord Justice of Appeal this is perhaps an odd way of expressing the qualification. The real purpose is to ensure that such a Lord of Appeal has at some time practised for 10 years at the Bar of Northern Ireland. The Amendment to Clause 99 makes no change either of substance but improves the drafting. I beg to move.

On Question, Amendment agreed to.

Lord MELCHETT moved Amendment No. 6:

Page 3, line 41, at end insert— ("(2) A county court judge shall, if requested to do so by the Lord Chancellor, sit and act as a judge of the High Court.").

The noble Lord said: My Lords, this Amendment was spoken to with Amendment No. 4. I beg to move.

On Question, Amendment agreed to.

The LORD CHANCELLOR moved Amendment No. 7: Page 4, line 8, leave out ("Secretary of State") and insert ("Lord Chancellor").

The noble and learned Lord said: My Lords, with this Amendment it may be convenient to discuss also a multiplicity of Amendments, Nos. 17, 18, 20, 28, 32, 33, 36, 37, 38, 46, 47, 55, 60, 64, 65, 70, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 80 to 82, 89, 100 to 102, 110, 113, 115 and 116. The purpose of these Amendments will be immediately apparent to your Lordships. They are designed to transfer responsibility for all the courts in Northern Ireland from the Secretary of State to the Lord Chancellor in accordance with the undertaking which I gave at the Committee stage. In some instances the opportunity has also been taken to make minor drafting improvements, but the only substantive effect of all the Amendments to which I have referred is to transfer the ministerial responsibility.

I do not think it is necessary for me now to repeat the arguments which were rehearsed in relation to this issue at the Committee stage, but I hope the Amendments will be acceptable to your Lordships. May I draw your Lordships' attention particularly to the new clause, Amendment No. 82, which has the effect of transferring to the Lord Chancellor the responsibility for administering all the inferior courts. I beg to move.

Viscount BROOKEBOROUGH

My Lords, I should like wholeheartedly to welcome this Amendment and every other Amendment that goes with it. While there might be a time when I would wish the noble and learned Lord not necessarily to occupy that seat, his office certainly represents continuity which has the fullest confidence of all my friends in Northern Ireland who represented to me that this is the case. Certainly all my friends would wish the noble and learned Lord well, and if we do not necessarily wish him to be there permanently I am sure he will understand that. I should like to welcome this and say most sincerely that the continuity of his office is something which will assure us in Northern Ireland of the integrity of the courts for many years to come.

On Question, Amendment agreed to.

Clause 8 [Additional provisions as to persons rendering judicial assistance]:

4.10 p.m.

The LORD CHANCELLOR moved Amendment No. 8:

Page 4, line 15, leave out subsection (2) and insert— ("(2) Every person while sitting and acting under section 6 or 7 shall, subject to subsection (3), be treated for all purposes as, and accordingly may perform any of the functions of, a judge of the court in which he is sitting and acting. (3) A person shall not by virtue of subsection (2) be treated as a judge of the court in which he is sitting and acting for the purposes of any statutory provision relating to—

1. (a) the appointment, retirement, removal or disqualification of judges of that court;
2. (b) the tenure of office and oaths to be taken by such judges; or
3. (c) the remuneration, allowances or pensions of such judges.").

The noble and learned Lord said: My Lords, this is a drafting Amendment which improves on the provisions of Clause 8(2), which it replaces. I beg to move.

On Question, Amendment agreed to.

Clause 9 [Qualifications of judges of High Court and Court of Appeal]:

Lord MELCHETT moved Amendment No. 9: Page 4, line 36, leave out from ("and") to end of line 38 and insert ("before his appointment to that office had practised for not less than ten years at the Bar of Northern Ireland,")

The noble Lord said: My Lords, this Amendment was taken with Amendment No. 5. I beg to move.

On Question, Amendment agreed to.

Clause 11 [Exercise of functions of Lord Chief Justice]:

The LORD CHANCELLOR had given Notice of his intention to move Amendment No. 10: Page 5, line 5, after first ("or") insert ("if").

The noble and learned Lord said: My Lords, this again is simply a drafting Amendment designed to make the clause easier to understand.

Lord FOOT

My Lords, since I spent the greater part of this morning industriously reading through the Amendments to this Bill, and because I could only find one conceivable error in all the Amendments which have been tabled and this was it, may I occupy the time of the House for one minute to explain why I think that this is possibly not the best wording to use and to draw attention to what I regard as the rather curious wording in the rest of the clause.

Dealing with this earth-shattering question of whether we should insert "if" I would suggest, with all respect to the draftsmen, that a preferable word would be "because". May I read the subsection as it would then read: … if the Lord Chief Justice is not available because of absence or other reason or because his office is vacant, …". I suggest that that is more appropriate. The meaning is exactly the same, but instead of inserting "if" we are to retain the same words and use the word "because". It may be of small moment, but I suggest that that might be an improvement, if only euphoniously.

The more urgent matter is that the wording of the rest of this clause seems to me in one particular to be quite extraordinary. May I read it to the House: Anything which by virtue of this Act or any other statutory provision is for the time being authorised or required to be done to or by the Lord Chief Justice …". If I leave out the "or by", it reads like this: Anything which by virtue of this Act or any other statutory provision is for the time being authorised or required to be done to … the Lord Chief Justice …". I do not know what you do to a Lord Chief Justice. It may be that this provision is put in because of the special circumstances of Ireland, and the fact that there may be a lot of people there who want to do something special to the Lord Chief Justice.

If one reads on, it becomes even more extraordinary because it says that if anything is authorised by this Act: to be done to … the Lord Chief Justice then in the absence of the Lord Chief Justice—that is, if he is not available because of absence or other reason, or his office is vacant, that may be done during such unavailability or vacancy to … the senior Lord Justice of Appeal … So if you cannot get at the Lord Chief Justice and do anything to him, then this magnificent clause gives you power to do the same thing to the senior Lord Justice of Appeal.

I fancy that this is intended to cover not only what may be done by the Lord Chief Justice, anything that may be authorised or required to be done by the Lord Chief Justice, but also to cover circumstances in which a representation is being made to the Lord Chief Justice; then the word "done" is used in order to cover that situation. I suggest that it is not necessary to put in "to", because if somebody is being authorised to make an application to the Lord Chief Justice, or is required or authorised to do it, then the retention of the words, "by the Lord Chief Justice" is entirely sufficient, because what is then done by the Lord Chief Justice is either to grant or refuse the representation. I suggest, therefore, that the words "to or" are in fact otiose, and indeed slightly risible. On that account I would earnestly commend to the noble and learned Lord who sits on the Woolsack that possibly before Third Reading it might be considered whether "done to" might be omitted.

The LORD CHANCELLOR

My Lords, I want immediately to assure noble Lords that no mayhem or other action of an unfriendly character in relation to the Lord Chief Justice is contemplated at all; it is to deal with the situation, for instance—as indeed the noble Lord himself indicated in looking for an explanation—if an application is made to the Lord Chief Justice and something is done to the Lord Chief Justice by reason of that application. We shall certainly have a look at this again. I think that the inclusion of the word "if" appears to be necessary. However, I am willing at greater leisure than I immediately have to look at this again. Therefore, I shall not press this Amendment, but we can return to this earth-shattering issue between the noble Lord and myself at a later time. With your Lordships' leave, I shall not move Amendment No. 10. I hope that that is the appropriate way of dealing with it. Amendment No. 10 is not moved. I hope that I have not incurred the eternal displeasure of my noble friend Lord Melchett by so early a surrender.

Clause 12 [Appointment of judges]:

The LORD CHANCELLOR moved Amendment No. 11: Page 5, line 12, leave out ("becomes") and insert ("is").

The noble and learned Lord said: My Lords, this is another drafting Amendment, but it is of some significance. The word "becomes" in the second line of Clause 12(1) suggests that an appointment of a new judge to the High Court or the Court of Appeal can only be made following the death or departure of another judge. But, in accordance with Amendment No. 1, it may be desirable to add a new judge to the strength of the Bench, thereby increasing the total within the limits permitted under Clauses 2 or 3. That is achieved by substituting the word "is". This, incidentally, brings this provision into line with the comparable provision for England and Wales. I beg to move.

On Question, Amendment agreed to.

Clause 28 [Co-ordination of exercise of jurisdiction in relation to persons under disability]:

4.20 p.m.

Lord BELSTEAD moved Amendment No. 12: Leave out Clause 28.

The noble Lord said: My Lords, Clause 28 transfers from the Lord Chief Justice to the High Court jurisdiction in matters relating to mentally disordered patients and subsection (3) interprets the word "patients" by reference to the Lunacy Regulation (Ireland) Act 1871, which defines the mentally disordered in words which I ventured to criticise at the previous stage of the Bill. In Committee, I moved an Amendment to define patients by reference to the more modern Mental Health (Northern Ireland) Act 1961. The definition of a patient in Section 7 of that Act is: Persons suffering from mental disorder, persons requiring special care and persons deemed to be socially inefficient.

With, I regret, only short notice of that Amendment in Committee, the noble and learned Lord the Lord Chancellor gave me his view on three points. The first was that jurisdiction over mental patients was of two kinds, over their persons and over their property, and he said that the 1961 Act provided for the care of persons while the 1871 Act governed jurisdiction over property. Secondly, the noble and learned Lord said that the 1871 Act was still in use, hence reference to the principal Act was needed in this clause, and he gave an assurance that a complete revision of the law relating to mental health in Northern Ireland was under consideration. His third point was that my Amendment would have fallen outside the scope of the Long Title of the Bill.

I deduce from that that Clause 28 refers to jurisdiction over the property of a mental patient and transfers that jurisdiction from the Lord Chief Justice to the High Court. My first question therefore is this: exactly what is the extent of that jurisdiction to be?—and I ask that because, as I understand it, when a person becomes mentally ill in Northern Ireland and is admitted to hospital or some other form of care in the community, the social services department has a statutory duty to take immediate measures to ensure the safety of that person's property and personal effects. The Department for the Affairs of Patients must then be informed and a committee established to manage that person's estate, and from then on that Department is responsible. However, I am advised that, in practice, where the property of a mental patient is small, the responsibility is liable to remain with the health and social services board. I understand that this ad hoc custom, although it has worked all right, has been of some concern to the boards, which have felt that they should be authorised in writing by the Department for the Affairs of Patients so that they are certain of what their power is.

All that procedure is for the care of property which, by Clause 28, is to fall within the jurisdiction of the High Court, yet I hope that it is clear from what I have said that statutory responsibility is being shared by the boards. They have the emergency responsibility when a patient becomes ill and, as I am advised, they have been accustomed to continue responsibility over small estates on a continuing basis. It would be useful to have it confirmed that this interpretation is correct so that we know the extent of the jurisdiction—in this case, in regard to the property of a mental patient—which is being transferred to the High Court by this clause.

At the same time, I would appreciate, a reassurance that responsibility for the person of a mentally disordered patient falls entirely within the jurisdiction of the 1961 Act, which places responsibility with the Northern Ireland Department for Health and Social Services, which, in turn, delegate that responsibility to the area boards. If that is correct, then the consequence is that, in assessing the extent of the mental disorder of a patient for the purpose of the care of his person under Section 15 of the 1871 Act—that is the section which the noble Lord has kindly advised me in a letter needs an inquiry—the health and social services are using the definition contained in Section 7 of the 1961 Act; that is, when deciding about the fitness of a mental patient with regard to the mental patient's property. But the High Court will continue to use the definition of a mental patient when it is deciding the fitness of the person of a mental patient by reference to the 1871 Act. I would only observe from this divergence of statutory definition that this is a compelling reason for hastening on with the statutory reform to which the noble and learned Lord referred in Committee. I am therefore asking whether the Government can give some forecast of the time-scale for that work to be completed: are we talking of years or months? I hope we are not talking of a very long time.

I apologise to noble Lords for the length of this intervention. My final question relates to Schedule 3, which is connected with Clause 28. The reallocation of the duties now discharged by the Chief Clerk of the Supreme Court of Northern Ireland and his Assistant as part of their duties to a Master and Registrar in Care and Protection, who will both be officers of the Supreme Court, presumably has some reason, but I am not aware of that reason. I realise that Clause 70 of this Bill makes it clear that the old name for the officers of the Supreme Court who are looking after the Department for the Affairs of Patients will now be dispensed with and that the new name for the two new officers will be "Officers in Care and Protection", and I think that this will be very acceptable to people working in the mental health field.

These two new appointments presumably imply some increase in the volume of work. Possibly more cases are to be handled within the Family Division of the High Court. I do not know, but in either case—whether there is more work being handled in the Family Division of the High Court or whether there is simply a greater volume of work—there are bound to be implications for health and social work staff. If staff are to be ready to respond effectively, they need to understand the nature of the changes that are being made in this Bill and the implications, if there are any, for resources, administration and training. I have asked three questions: first, are my assumptions as to the extent of the High Court jurisdiction under this clause correct? Secondly, when is the work of statutory revision likely to be finished? Thirdly, what are the implications of the two new statutory appointments in Schedule 3? I beg to move.

Lord MELCHETT

My Lords, I shall deal with the noble Lord's three points in the order in which he put them. First, I think his assumptions are exactly correct as to the extent of the powers: all that Clause 28 does is to transfer from the Lord Chief Justice to the High Court all the Lord Chief Justice's powers which were conferred by Statute and by the Royal Sign Manual connected with looking after the property and affairs of mental patients as defined in subsection (3). I should be happy to give the noble Lord a little detail about what those powers are if he requires it, but he is quite right in assuming that the existing powers are being transferred and that there is no extension or diminution of them implied by the provisions of the Bill.

His second point was about the Review Body which is shortly to be set up by the Department for which I am responsible in Northern Ireland—the Department of Health and Social Services—to examine the Mental Health (Northern Ireland) Act 1961. Certainly, our intention is to set up the Review Body in the near future. It will of course benefit from the very considerable work that has been carried out in England and Wales, and that is why the appointemnt of the Review Body has been held until now. I could not at this stage realistically give the noble Lord any likely time-scale for the Review Body's work; this is a complicated field, as our discussion of this clause has demonstrated. I am sure they will balance with great care the need for speedy action against the need to review matters which are contentious and difficult, and it would not be fair to the Review Body for the Minister to say in advance how long he expected it to take.

Dealing with the noble Lord's final point, there is no new work involved in the change of title from Registrar in Lunacy and Assistant Registrar in Lunacy to those of Master in Care and Protection and Registrar in Care and Protection; it is simply changing the title by which the existing people are called. As the noble Lord said, this is being done because it is hoped that this will be more appropriate to the functions of the office, and I think it will be very much welcomed by all those concerned in the field of mental health in Northern Ireland. So no new work and no new appointments are involved; it is simply a change in the title of the existing personnel. I hope that that brief explanation answers all the noble Lord's points, but if there is any further information I can give him I shall be happy to try to do so.

Baroness FAITHFULL

My Lords, may I ask the help of the noble Lord who has just spoken? Do I understand—I think I do—that the law is clear but the practice is not always in accordance with the law? That is to say, when the department for the affairs of patients is notified, if the matter concerns only a small estate then I understand it is left for the social services board to deal with although they have not really got the jurisdiction. Therefore, I can only assume that the law is correct but the practice is different. Would this be right?

Lord MELCHETT

My Lords, as I understood the noble Lord, Lord Belstead — and it was he who made this point, I think, not me—he was saying that on occasions the social services are asked by the legal authorities to continue to do some work with the person who is suffering from mental illness. I was not quite clear from what the noble Lord said whether this was work connected with the person or the property of the person concerned; but nevertheless, this is the practice. The social services boards, as the noble Lord said, are not entirely clear about their statutory duties and powers. This seems to me to be an area which will have to be considered by the general review body which I have announced will be set up shortly. As I understand it, there is no problem with the practice at the moment, though there may be some uncertainty. After the passage of this Bill the practice will continue in just the same way, and will be included in the major review which is going to be undertaken in Northern Ireland; and that seems to me to be the sensible course to follow.

Lord BELSTEAD

My Lords, I am most grateful to the noble Lord for the reply that he has given. I assure him that I will not rejoin at the same length as that at which I spoke before, but one important point arises. I understood the noble Lord to refer to the law revision as being revision of the 1961 Mental Health Act. I understood from what the noble and learned Lord the Lord Chancellor said in Committee—and I will not quote the noble and learned Lord's words—that what we were really talking about was a revision of the law relating to mental health with particular reference to the 1871 Act. I hope that I have that right.

I do not think we really ever ought to forget the anxiety of those who are closely concerned with a mental patient, either as friends or as relatives—anxiety which often fixes upon what is going to happen in the future to someone who is mentally ill. The long and short of it is that to use the archaic language of 100 years ago is in itself enough to dash whatever hopes such people may often retain. For that reason alone, I hope that what we are talking about is revision of the law as it relates to the 1871 Act and whatever revision of the law is necessary as it may relate to the 1961 Act in Northern Ireland.

The noble Lord interpreted absolutely rightly what I was seeking to say when I spoke on my first point. I am advised that the health and social services hoards, on a purely ad hoc basis, very often find themselves going on administering very small estates of mental patients when a committee, as it is called under the 1961 Act, has not been formed for the protection of the property of that mental patient. As I am advised, the health and social services boards are very ready to do this work, but they have felt that perhaps they ought to have some legal standing to do it. I do not know, but I would have thought that it might have needed an amendment of Article 38 of the Health and Personal Social Services Order 1972.

I apologise for keeping the House so long. I do not think, though, it has been a bad thing. This is a clause relating to jurisdiction with regard to mental health; and, although it may be very well understood by the legal experts, the implications of it were not immediately evident to people like myself; nor, indeed, to those to whom we owe so much—the people who actually do the work of looking after those who are mentally ill and mentally handicapped in Northern Ireland. I have no doubt that I shall receive an assurance about the law revision at a later date, and I am perfectly happy to leave that. I beg leave to withdraw my Amendment.

Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.

Clause 38 [Powers of Court for purposes of appeals]:

4.35 p.m.

The LORD CHANCELLOR moved Amendment No. 13: Page 22, line 16, leave out ("heretofore").

The noble and learned Lord said: My Lords, this is a drafting Amendment. I beg to move.

On Question, Amendment agreed to.

Clause 39 [Appeals to Court of Appeal under Criminal Appeal Act]:

The LORD CHANCELLOR moved Amendment No. 14: Page 23, line 16, at end insert ("for the purposes of").

The noble and learned Lord said: My Lords, this, again, is another drafting Amendment which, like those T shall simply refer to as drafting Amendments, makes no change of substance and is designed simply to make the clause easier to understand. I beg to move.

On Question, Amendment agreed to.

Clause 47 [Exercise of jurisdiction by Crown Court]:

The LORD CHANCELLOR moved Amendment No. 15: Page 29, line 7, leave out ("Lord Chief Justice") and insert ("Lord Chancellor").

The noble and learned Lord said: My Lords, this is another Amendment which adjusts the balance of responsibilities within the Bill, this time in relation to the new Crown Court. The expeditious despatch of criminal business which will become my responsibility depends very much on having the right judges available to sit to try cases where and when they are needed. In England and Wales this is a responsibility which I already bear, and this Amendment would achieve the same position in Northern Ireland. Thus, although this is not an inevitable consequence of my assumption of responsibility, it seems to be a logical one. I beg to move.

On Question, Amendment agreed to.

The LORD CHANCELLOR moved Amendment No. 16: Page 29, line 9, leave out from ("respectively") to end of line 10 and insert ("and all other matters relating to the distribution of Crown Court business shall be determined in accordance with directions given by the Lord Chancellor after consultation with the Lord Chief Justice.")

The noble and learned Lord said: My Lords, with this Amendment I propose to deal also with Amendment No. 19, which is consequential upon it. The second limb of Clause 47(2) of the Bill deals with the way in which cases are to be allocated to different levels of the Judiciary in the Crown Courts. Thus, for example, murder would be tried only by a High Court judge, while, at the other extreme, cases of petty theft which are to be tried on indictment could be tried by a county court or deputy county court judge. This grading of cases again follows the practice in England and Wales, save that here it is done by the Lord Chief Justice of England.

However, this is a matter which I think should more appropriately restin the hands of the Lord Chancellor, since it has implications for the good management and despatch of business, for which the Lord Chancellor is ultimately responsible. The new provision includes a requirement that the Lord Chief Justice of Northern Ireland be consulted about this and other matters relating to the distribution of Crown Court business, and the Lord Chief Justice is content with this solution. I beg to move.

On Question, Amendment agreed to.

4.40 p.m.

Lord MELCHETT moved Amendments Nos. 17 and 18:

Page 29, line 13, leave out from ("by") to ("after") in line 14 and insert ("the Lord Chancellor")

Page 29, line 27, leave out ("or on behalf of the Secretary of State") and insert ("the Lord Chancellor").

The noble Lord said: My Lords, with the leave of the House, I beg to move Amendments Nos. 17 and 18 en bloc. They were discussed with Amendment No. 7.

On Question, Amendments agreed to.

Clause 48 [Committal for trial on indictment]:

Lord MELCHETT moved Amendment No. 19: Page 29, line 37, leave out ("Lord Chief Justice") and insert ("Lord Chancellor").

The noble Lord said: My Lords, this Amendment was spoken to with Amendment No. 16. I beg to move.

On Question, Amendment agreed to.

Clause 53 [Application of sections 54 to 56 to Crown Court rules]:

Lord MELCHETT moved Amendment No. 20:

Page 34, leave out lines 17 to 20 and insert ("namely—

1. (a) two county court judges nominated by the Lord Chancellor after consultation with the Lord Chief Justice;
2. (b) a resident magistrate nominated in the same manner; and").

The noble Lord said: My Lords, this Amendment, too, was discussed with Amendment No. 7. I beg to move.

On Question, Amendment agreed to.

Clause 54 [The Supreme Court Rules Committee]:

Lord BELSTEAD moved Amendment No. 21: Page 35, line 14, leave out ("of whom the Chairman of the meeting shall be one").

The noble Lord said: My Lords, Clause 54(3) provides that the Supreme Court rules shall be made or altered only if there is a majority in favour of four members of the Rules Committee of whom the chairman of the Committee shall be one. This means that the approval of the Lord Chief Justice in his capacity as chairman is necessary to the making or amendment of any rules. This Amendment, which would remove this provision, is intended as no reflection on the Lord Chief Justice for Northern Ireland; rather it is to prove the rather unusual double veto which this clause taken with Clause 55 provides. If your Lordships glance at Clause 51(1) and (2) it will be found there that the concurrence of the Lord Chancellor also is needed before rules can be made. I should like to know whether this double veto on the decisions of the Rules Committee is deliberately intended and is considered necessary. I beg to move.

The LORD CHANCELLOR

My Lords, I recognise that Clause 54(3) effectively gives the Lord Chief Justice, as chairman of the Rules Committee, or whoever else may be taking the chair in his absence, a power of veto over any rule proposed by the Committee and that this is in addition to the powers of the Lord Chancellor under Clause 55. In England, the chairman of the Rules Committee has a similar power to that which is proposed in Clause 54(3), but the difference is that here the chairman is the Lord Chancellor himself, anyway. Unfortunately, it simply would not be practicable for me to be present as chairman of the Northern Ireland Rules Committee.

Therefore, the answer to the proposal of the noble Lord is essentially a practical one. In matters of procedure in the Supreme Court, the Lord Chancellor will have to rely heavily on the advice of the Lord Chief Justice of the day, and this will be particularly so when he comes to decide whether or not to concur in rules that are made. If a particular rule had been made against the wishes of the Lord Chief Justice, that would be a matter to which the Lord Chancellor would clearly have to attach a great deal of weight, and it is unlikely in those circumstances that he would concur in such a rule.

Under the system as proposed in the Bill, on the other hand, the Lord Chancellor would know that any rule which came before him for his concurrence already had the blessing of the Lord Chief Justice; and this would clearly make his task of deciding whether or not to concur a good deal easier. For these reasons, I hope the House will accept that the Bill should be left unaltered in this respect.

Lord BELSTEAD

My Lords, I am grateful to the noble and learned Lord for his explanation of the interdependence of Clauses 54 and 55. This I certainly accept, and I beg leave to withdraw the Amendment.

Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.

The LORD CHANCELLOR moved Amendment No. 22:

Page 35, line 16, leave out subsections (4) to (6) and insert— ("(4) In the absence of the Lord Chief Justice, the senior judge present shall be chairman of the meeting. (5) The Principal Secretary to the Lord Chief Justice or such other officer as the Lord Chancellor, after consultation with the Lord Chief Justice, may from time to time designate shall be secretary to the Rules Committee. (6) Any expenses incurred by the Rules Committee shall be paid by the Lord Chancellor.").

The noble and learned Lord said: My Lords, it may be convenient if, with this Amendment, I also deal with Amendments Nos. 87 and 88. This Amendment replaces the last three subsections of Clause 54. The new subsection (4) merely improves and simplifies the drafting of its predecessor and makes no real change of substance. The change effected by Amendments Nos. 87 and 88 produces a new feature in the substituted subsection (5), namely, a change of title for the Permanent Secretary to the Lord Chief Justice who will, in future, be known as the "Principal Secretary". Now that the Supreme Court is to be largely staffed by civil servants, it will save confusion if this statutory officer, who will not be a civil servant or a member of my Department in any sense, does not bear a title which has particular and special Civil Service connotations.

Your Lordships may be interested to know that this statutory officer will continue to bear also the title of Clerk of the Crown, formerly of the Crown and Hanaper. It appears that the ancient title of this office, which corresponds to that noble office, the Clerk of the Crown in Chancery in England, derived from the fact that in former days the Clerk of the Crown in Ireland was also the custodian of the hanaper, or basket, in which were carried the writs. It would be clearly inappropriate if he had been called "the basket"; and so he was called the Hanaper, the Clerk of the Crown and Hanaper. The new subsection (6) simply transfers responsibility for expenses incurred by the Supreme Court Rules Committee from the Secretary of State to the Lord Chief Justice. I beg to move.

On Question, Amendment agreed to

4.48 p.m.

Clause 55 [Rules of court]:

The LORD CHANCELLOR moved Amendment No. 23: Page 36, line 23, leave out from ("sittings") to ("officer") in line 24 and insert ("of any court, division, judge or statutory").

The noble and learned Lord said: My Lords, Clause 55 deals with the powers of the Supreme Court Rules Committee in Northern Ireland to make rules of court and this Amendment makes a small modification in those powers. One effect of this Amendment would be to remove the reference to vacations from Clause 55(2)(a) because this is already dealt with in Clause 57(1).

The other effect is to remove the references to regulation of offices and all officers of the Supreme Court and confine the Rules Committee's powers of regulation to the sittings of the statutory officers. The reason for this change is that the other officers of the Supreme Court will in future be members of my Department and their duties are, therefore, more appropriately regulated by myself or by my responsible officials on my behalf, rather than by rules of court. The judges and the statutory officers, as defined in Schedule 3, will not be members of my Department and will, therefore, continue to have their sittings regulated by rules of court. This is what the Amendment achieves. I beg to move.

On Question, Amendment agreed to.

Clause 58 [Sittings of High Court and Court of Appeal]:

The LORD CHANCELLOR moved Amendment No. 24:

Page 38, line 10, leave out subsection (2) and insert— ("(2) The places at which the High Court and the Court of Appeal sit outside the Royal Courts of Justice and the places outside the Royal Courts of Justice at which any other business of those courts may be conducted shall be determined in accordance with directions given by the Lord Chancellor.").

The noble and learned Lord said: My Lords, this is another Amendment which is designed to improve the machinery of the administration and it also transfers certain powers from the Lord Chief Justice to the Lord Chancellor. The old sub-section (2), which this Amendment replaces, did not provide the degree of flexibility as to the places of sittings of the High Court that experience in England and Wales has shown to be desirable. The effect of the new subsection is, therefore, to take this matter out of the realm of subordinate legislation by way of rules of court and to give the Lord Chancellor a power to give directions—and not just temporary directions as under the old subsection—as to where the High Court shall sit.

Not only will this enable me and my officials to deal with situations as they arise—for example, a sudden crop of cases away from Belfast—but also to alter the pattern on a more permanent basis so that, for example, if there were at some future time to be a rise in the amount of High Court business at Londonderry, and it looked like being a permanent development, arrangements could be made under this new provision for sittings of the High Court to be held there as often as necessary without the need for further legislation. I beg to move.

On Question Amendment agreed to.

The Lord CHANCELLOR moved Amendment No. 25: Page 38, line 17, leave out ("with a jury") and insert ("by the court").

The noble and learned Lord said: My Lords, the purpose of this Amendment is somewhat similar to that of the one which I have just moved, and that is to provide greater flexibility for the places of sitting of the High Court in the interests of justice and of the convenience of the parties and witnesses. Subsection (3), which would be altered by this Amendment, complements subsection (2) by enabling the court to order trial in another place in a particular case. It may happen, for instance, that the trial in question will require the attendance of a large number of witnesses who all come from a particular district and that therefore it would be more convenient for the trial to be held in that district.

Alternatively, there could be strong local feeling about a particular case, and although that is not likely to affect a High Court judge sitting by himself, justice would be better seen to be done if the trial were held outside the area in question. As it stands, the Bill restricts this power of the court to order trial in another place to actions or issues which are to be tried with a jury, and the effect of this Amendment would be to extend that power to all civil proceedings. I beg to move.

On Question, Amendment agreed to.

Clause 60 [Taxation of Costs]:

Lord MELCHETT moved Amendment No. 26: Page 39, line 3, after ("Office") insert ("or such other statutory officer as may be designated for the purpose by the Lord Chancellor after consultation with the Lord Chief Justice").

The noble Lord said: my Lords, the purpose of this Amendment is, again, to enable better facilities to be provided for the despatch of High Court business outside Belfast. Clause 60 deals with the taxation of costs, and subsection (1) vests the jurisdiction in the Master (Taxing Office), who is one of the statutory officers listed in Schedules 2 and 3 and who has an office in Belfast. This Amendment will enable the Lord Chancellor to appoint other statutory officers, who would probably be the new circuit registrars outside Belfast, to have jurisdiction to tax bills of costs as well. Before making any designation of a statutory officer, the Amendment requires the Lord Chancellor to consult the Lord Chief Justice. I beg to move.

On Question, Amendment agreed to.

4.56 p.m.

Clause 68 [Departments]:

The LORD CHANCELLOR moved Amendment No. 27:

Page 43, line 1, leave out subsections (2) to (5) and insert— ("(2) The business to be assigned to each department shall—

1. (a) be prescribed by rules of court; and
2. (b) subject to any directions given by the Lord Chancellor under subsection (4), be transacted under the supervision of the statutory officer specified in relation to that department in the second column of Schedule 2.

(3) The Lord Chancellor may by order made after consultation with the Lord Chief Justice establish at such place as may be specified in the order a branch office of the Probate and Matrimonial Office which—

1. (a) may transact such of the business of that Office as may be so specified; and
2. (b) shall, subject to subsection (4), be under the supervision of a circuit registrar.

(4) Statutory officers shall discharge their functions in accordance with directions given by the Lord Chancellor. (5) The Lord Chancellor may by order made after consultation with the Lord Chief Justice at any time modify Schedule 2 by—

1. (a) removing any department and any entry relating thereto from that Schedule;
2. (b) adding any department and any entry relating thereto to that Schedule;
3. (c) amending the name of any department or amending any entry relating to any department in that Schedule.

(6) An order under subsection (5) may make provision for any incidental, consequential, transitional or supplementary matters for which it appears to the Lord Chancellor to be necessary or expedient for the purpose of the order to provide, and may amend or repeal any statutory provision (including any provision of this Act) so far as may be necessary or expedient in consequence of the order.").

The noble and learned Lord said: my Lords, this Amendment is not as substantial—in spite of its length—as it may appear to be; much of it consists simply in a rearrangement of the existing provisions of subsections (2) to (5) of Clause 68. Those changes of substance which are made by this Amendment are designed to improve the administration in the light of the change in Ministerial responsibility. The new subsection (2) largely restates its old equivalent, but with the important modification that the supervision which the statutory officers will exercise over their respective departments in the Supreme Court will be subject to any directions given by the Lord Chancellor under subsection (4). If the Lord Chancellor is to discharge his responsibilities effectively and be answerable to Parliament for the despatch of business in the Supreme Court, it is necessary for him to have this degree of control over the administration.

The new subsection (3) simply restates in slightly different language the provisions of old subsection (5), but with the same proviso that the supervision officers—the circuit registrars, in other words—will be subject to the Lord Chancellor's directions in the way they administer the branch offices of the Probate and Matrimonial Office. The new subsections (5) and (6) replace old subsections (3) and (4), respectively. The difference here is that the Amendment proposes a simplified procedure for modifying Schedule 2 to the Bill and thereby, as and when necessary, rearranging the departments of the Supreme Court. This departmental structure is a wholly administrative matter and, although it is right that it should be set out in an Act of Parliament, there is really no justification for a very formal style of subordinate legislation—by Order in Council—to alter administrative structures of this kind. The Amendment therefore proposes that this power should be exercisable by the Lord Chancellor by a simple order instead, and I hope that this will be acceptable to the House. I beg to move.

On Question, Amendment agreed to.

Clause 69 [Officers and staff]:

Lord MELCHETT moved Amendment No. 28: Page 43, line 30, leave out ("Secretary of State") and insert ("Lord Chancellor").

The noble Lord said: My Lords, this Amendment was moved with Amendment No. 7. I beg to move.

On Question, Amendment agreed to.

Lord MELCHETT moved Amendments Nos. 29 to 31: Page 43, leave out lines 36 to 38 and insert—

1. ("(c) magistrates' courts;
2. (d) the Enforcement of Judgments Office; and
3. (e) coroners' courts;

as appear to him to be necessary and such officers and staff shall discharge their functions in accordance with directions given by the Lord Chancellor").> Page 44, line 26, leave out ("and") Page 44, line 29, at end insert ("and (v) the officers of, and other persons employed for the purposes of, coroners' courts;").

The noble Lord said: My Lords, in moving Amendments Nos. 29, 30 and 31, it may be convenient if I also speak to Amendments Nos. 95 and 123. The system of coroners' courts in Northern Ireland was not originally covered by this Bill; but following the decision at Committee stage to transfer the ministerial responsibility of the administration of the courts to my noble and learned friend the Lord Chancellor, it seemed right that the administration of coroners' courts should also be transferred. Although the numbers involved are very small indeed, it would also be convenient if the staff of coroners' courts were brought within the new unified courts service which will be established under the powers contained in Clause 69 of this Bill.

The first of these Amendments thus makes the appropriate change to Clause 69(1) and also, incidentally, underlines the fact that the officers and staff of the new service will be under the Lord Chancellor's control. Amendments Nos. 30 and 31 make similar changes to subsection (4).

Amendment No. 95 makes consequential drafting changes in the Coroners' Act (Northern Ireland) 1959, of which the majority are straightforward and consequential upon the decision to transfer ministerial responsibility. Some of these Amendments re-state changes already effected by the Northern Ireland (Modification of Enactments—No. 1) Order 1973 and will enable part of that order to be repealed.

Finally, Amendment No. 123 provides for the repeal of two provisions in the Coroners' Act 1959. Section 4, at present, places responsibility on the Secretary of State for the provision, maintenance and equipment of accommodation for the holding of coroners' courts. Such accommodation will in future be provided by the Secretary of State for the Environment under the Administration of Justice Act (Northern Ireland) 1954, as amended by Schedule 5 to this Bill. The definitions in Section 40 which are repealed by this Amendment are redundant, following the transfer of ministerial responsibility. I beg to move Amendments Nos. 29 to 31.

On Question, Amendments agreed to.

Lord MELCHETT moved Amendments Nos. 32 and 33: Line 30, leave out ("Secretary of State") and insert ("Lord Chancellor") Line 42, leave out ("Secretary of State") and insert ("Lord Chancellor").

The noble Lord said: My Lords, I beg to move Amendments Nos. 32 and 33 together. These were discussed with Amendment No. 7.

On Question, Amendments agreed to.

Lord MELCHETT moved Amendment No. 34: Line 43, leave out second ("and").

The noble Lord said: My Lords, with this Amendment, I should like also to speak to Amendment No. 35. Taken together, these Amendments make provision for the abolition by order of the office of under-sheriff and for the transfer of the functions of that office to such other persons or bodies as may be specified in the order. Your Lordships are already aware of the contents of Clause 104 which, in making new provision for under-sheriffs to take account of the territorial re-distribution of courts, clearly contemplates the continued existence of this ancient and historic office. This is, of course, right, and in seeking your Lordships' agreement to add to Clause 69(5) a reference to the office of under-sheriff, the Government are doing no more than seeking to include in the Bill a power which may in future prove unnecessary.

The office of sheriff was introduced in Ireland soon after the first settlement of the English, and since then has been regulated by numerous statutory provisions. However, since the enactment of the Judgments (Enforcement) Act (Northern Ireland) 1969 and of a Local Government Order in 1973, almost all the functions of the under-sheriffs in Northern Ireland have been abolished or transferred to other bodies. Indeed, this Bill provides for the abolition of their functions in relation to the assessment of damages by a sheriff's jury. Apart, therefore, from their ceremonial functions, many of which will disappear with the passing of the assizes, the future rôle of under-sheriffs in Northern Ireland will be confined to the important task of summoning jurors.

Noble Lords will be aware that a new system for the preparation and revision of jury lists in Northern Ireland was introduced in 1973 to take account of the abolition of the property qualification for jurors and the consequential wider jury franchise. This system, however, preserved the distinction between those officers who prepare the jury lists and those who subsequently summon jurors from those lists.

I am pleased to say that I am advised that the new system in Northern Ireland has been found to operate both fairly and efficiently. I can assure your Lordships that if, at some future date, it proves necessary to abolish the office of under-sheriff in Northern Ireland, the abolition of the office will not be allowed to disrupt the arrangements for the selection and screening of jurors in Northern Ireland, for which alternative provision preserving the existing safeguards will certainly be made. I beg to move.

On Question, Amendment agreed to.

Lord MELCHETT moved Amendment No. 35: Line 44, at end insert ("and under-sheriff").

The noble Lord said: My Lords, I beg to move.

On Question, Amendment agreed to.

Lord MELCHETT moved Amendments Nos. 36 to 38: Page 45, line 5, leave out ("Secretary of State") and insert ("Lord Chancellor") Page 45, line 13, leave out ("Secretary of State") and insert ("Lord Chancellor"). Clause 70, page 45, line 18, leave out ("Secretary of State") and insert ("Lord Chancellor").

The noble Lord said: My Lords, I beg to move Amendments Nos. 36, 37 and 38 en bloc. These were all discussed with Amendment No. 7.

On Question, Amendments agreed to.

The LORD CHANCELLOR moved Amendment No. 39: Line 22, leave out subsection (2).

The noble and learned Lord said: My Lords, this Amendment would leave out subsection (2) of Clause 70 because it will no longer be necessary. Under subsection (1), the Lord Chief Justice will retain the responsibility for appointing the statutory officers to the offices listed in column 1 of Schedule 3, and the Lord Chancellor's concurrence will be required for such appointments. The intention is that such concurrence will be necessary as regards the individual appointee as well as generally as to the total numbers and terms and conditions of service. Subsection (1) perhaps does not make this entirely clear at present and I shall be moving an Amendment at the next stage to clarify the matter. This being so, the requirement in subsection (2) for ministerial concurrence in appointments to statutory offices mentioned there is unnecessary and can be omitted. I beg to move.

On Question, Amendment agreed to.

The LORD CHANCELLOR moved Amendment No. 40: Line 39, leave out from ("experience") to end of line 41.

The noble and learned Lord said: My Lords, with this Amendment, I shall speak also to Amendment No. 117. Its purpose is to take away a restriction on appointments to the office of Master of the Taxing Office so that, where necessary, a barrister can be appointed. Your Lordships will observe that the qualifications for appointment to the statutory offices listed in Schedule 3 are specified in columns 2 and 3 of that Schedule, and Clause 70(3) provides that, normally, such a person must have those qualifications or else already be the holder of another listed office before he can be appointed. But subsection (4) makes an exception by providing that the Lord Chief Justice—and this would have to be with the Lord Chancellor's concurrence, pursuant to subsection (1)—can appoint any barrister or solicitor to any of those offices, despite the fact that he does not have the necessary number of years' standing and even if he does not belong to the branch of the profession which is specified in relation to that office. This is a useful provision, enabling an appointment to be made, for example, from the ranks of those who have served for many years in the Supreme Court without any legal qualification but have then qualified as a barrister or solicitor at a later date and who would be well fitted to discharge the duties of a statutory officer thereafter.

In these circumstances, the restriction of appointments to the office of Master of the Taxing Office to solicitors is not altogether appropriate. Furthermore, there is some doubt as to whether this restriction applies also to transfers between officers under subsection (3). It would no doubt be unusual for a barrister to be appointed as Master of the Taxing Office, but there can be circumstances in which a barrister might be the best man for the job, and it would be a pity if he were excluded from consideration by this provision in the Bill. Amendment No. 117 removes a similar restriction from the transitional provisions. I beg to move.

On Question, Amendment agreed to.

5.10 p.m.

Lord MELCHETT moved Amendment No. 41: Page 45, line 42, leave out from ("68") to ("functions") in line 43 and insert ("the functions of the holder of each office listed in column 1 of Schedule 3 shall include the").

The noble Lord said: My Lords, this is simply a drafting Amendment. I beg to move.

On Question, Amendment agreed to.

The LORD CHANCELLOR moved Amendments Nos. 42 to 44:

Page 46, line 11, leave out from beginning to ("at") and insert—("(5) The Lord Chancellor may by order made after consultation with the Lord Chief Justice.")

Page 46, line 19, leave out ("Order in Council") and insert ("order")

Page 46, line 21, leave out ("Her Majesty") and insert ("the Lord Chancellor").

The noble and learned Lord said: My Lords, with this Amendment I will also speak to Amendments Nos. 43 and 44, which are consequential upon it. Their purpose, like Amendment No. 27, is to simplify the procedure whereby the structure of the departments of the Supreme Court can be changed by making the necessary alterations to Schedule 3. These Amendments would dispense with the requirement of a formal Order in Council to achieve this, and would enable it to be done simply by an order made by the Lord Chancellor after consultation with the Lord Chief Justice. My Lords, I beg to move.

On Question, Amendments agreed to.

The LORD CHANCELLOR moved Amendment No. 45: Leave out Clause 74 and insert:

Deputies and temporary appointments.

("74.—(1) If it appears to the Lord Chief Justice that it is expedient to do so in order to facilitate the disposal of business he may, with the concurrence of the Lord Chancellor, appoint a suitably qualified person—

1. (a) to act as a deputy for any statutory officer, or
2. (b) to act as a temporary additional statutory officer, during such period or on such occasions as the Lord Chief Justice, with the concurrence of the Lord Chancellor, thinks fit.

(2) A person acting in an office by virtue of an appointment under subsection (1) shall have all the powers of a person permanently appointed to that office.

(3) Where for any purpose it is necessary for a judge of the High Court or the Court of Appeal to sit outside Belfast, he may, with the approval of the Lord Chief Justice, appoint a judge's registrar.

(4) The Lord Chancellor may pay to any person appointed under this section such remuneration and allowances as he may, with the consent of the Minister for the Civil Service, determine.").

The noble and learned Lord said: My Lords, this is largely a drafting Amendment which, apart from transferring the relevant responsibilities from the Secretary of State to the Lord Chancellor, improves the wording of this clause. My Lords, I beg to move.

On Question, Amendment agreed to.

Clause 75 [Official Solicitor]:

Lord MELCHETT moved Amendments Nos. 46 and 47: Page 48, line 5, leave out ("Secretary of State") and insert ("Lord Chancellor"). Clause 77, page 48, line 31, leave out from ("the") to ("may") in line 32 and insert ("Lord Chancellor").

The noble Lord said: My Lords, I beg to move Amendments Nos. 46 and 47 en bloc. These Amendments were discussed with Amendment No. 7. I beg to move.

On Question, Amendments agreed to.

Lord MELCHETT moved Amendment No. 48: Page 48, line 34, after ("in") insert ("or near").

The noble Lord said: My Lords, this is a minor Amendment to provide more flexibility as to the location of the office of the Accountant General of the Supreme Court. I beg to move.

On Question, Amendment agreed to.

Clause 79 [Accountant General to keep bank account]:

Lord MELCHETT moved Amendment No. 49: Page 49, line 18, leave out from beginning to ("with") in line 19 and insert ("Lord Chancellor may,").

The noble Lord said: My Lords, Clause 79 deals with the duty of the Accountant General of the Supreme Court to keep a bank account. Hitherto, by Statute that account has had to be kept with the Bank of Ireland, but Clause 79 enables other banks to be designated instead. This follows a similar change made in England by the Administration of Justice Act last year. This Amendment not only transfers the responsibility for designating other banks to the Lord Chancellor, but also removes the requirement of consultation with the Lord Chief Justice. My Lords, I beg to move.

On Question, Amendment agreed to.

Clause 81 [Investment of funds in court]:

The LORD CHANCELLOR moved Amendment No. 50: Page 49, line 42, after ("court") insert ("or by the Lord Chancellor").

The noble and learned Lord said: My Lords, this is another Amendment which is designed to provide slightly more flexibility in the administration of the Supreme Court. Clause 81 makes provision for the important question as to how funds in court should be invested. Sometimes such funds—for example, where they represent damages paid to children—remain in court for long periods, and it is important that they should be well invested so as to maintain and, if possible, enhance their value during the child's minority.

Ultimately, most funds will probably be invested in the common investment schemes referred to in Clause 82, but at present no such schemes exist which are tailored to the needs of Northern Ireland. In the meantime, it is desirable that the list of designated securities under Clause 81 should be kept up to date, and it may not be practicable for rules of court to be made or revoked as swiftly as is necessary for this purpose. The ultimate decision as to how funds are to be invested is, of course, a matter for the court, but this Amendment will enable the Lord Chancellor to provide, by way of a list of designated securities, the best advice which is available to him on this question of investment. My Lords, I beg to move.

On Question, Amendment agreed to.

Clause 82 [Rules as to funds]:

Lord MELCHETT moved Amendment No. 51: Page 50, line 38, after ("accounts") insert ("or effects").

The noble Lord said: My Lords, this is a minor drafting Amendment, which will enable the court to deal not only with money and accounts which have not been the subject of any dealings for a considerable period, but also with other effects. My Lords, I beg to move.

On Question, Amendment agreed to.

Clause 84 [Provision for default to be made good]:

Lord MELCHETT moved Amendments Nos. 52 and 53:

Page 51, line 24, leave out from beginning to ("officer") in line 25 and insert ("Where any").

Page 51, line 29, leave out from ("as") to end of line 31 and insert ("is necessary for making good the default shall be paid by the Lord Chancellor.").

The noble Lord said: My Lords, if I may speak to Amendment No. 53 with Amendment No. 52, these are primarily drafting Amendments. The only change of substance which they make is to dispense with the need for a certificate by the Lord Chief Justice as to the amount involved, where money is lost as a result of a default by any officer serving in the Supreme Court. My Lords, I beg to move.

On Question, Amendments agreed to.

Clause 94 [Relief from ejectment]:

5.18 p.m.

The LORD CHANCELLOR moved Amendment No. 54:

Page 55, line 5, at end insert— ("(3) This section applies to a grant at a fee farm rent or securing a rent by condition and, for the purposes of such application, references to the lease, to the landlord and to the demised premises shall be construed, respectively, as references to the grant, to the grantor and to the premises granted. (4) For the purposes of this section—

1. (a) references to a lease or grant include references to a sub-lease or sub-grant respectively, and
2. (b) references to the landlord or grantor include references to any person to whom the estate or interest of the landlord or grantor has passed.

(5) This section shall not operate to restrict any other power of the court to grant equitable relief.").

The noble and learned Lord said: My Lords, with this Amendment I will speak also to Amendments Nos. 118 to 120, which are consequential. It proposes to extend the powers of the court to grant relief against forfeiture in ejectment actions for non-payment of rent due under a lease to actions for non-payment of rent due under a fee farm grant. This extension is desirable, because the provisions which Clause 94 is intended to replace—namely, Sections 70 and 71 of the Landlord and Tenant Law Amendment Act (Ireland) 1860, and known, apparently, to generations of Irish lawyers as Deasy's Act, after Baron Deasy, who, as Solicitor-General for Ireland, was apparently largely responsible for it; and his name has achieved immortality as a consequence of it—are applicable to the great majority of fee farm grants in Northern Ireland, and it would be wrong to curtail the court's present powers to relieve for non-payment of fee farm rents.

Moreover, the Amendment will keep the powers available under Clause 94 in line with those which the court may exercise under Section 14 of the Conveyancing Act 1881 to grant relief against forfeiture, in cases of breach of covenant other than a covenant to pay rent. Subsection (4) of that section extends the court's powers to fee farm rents and derivative leases and the proposed new subsections (3) and (4) will effect a similar extension of Clause 94. The proposed new subsection (5) will ensure that the specific powers exercisable under Clause 94 will not inhibit in any way the general powers of a court to grant equitable relief—including relief against a forfeiture—which are continued by Clause 86(2)(a) of the Bill. There is a great deal of additional learning which has been supplied to me. However, I hope that it will be unnecessary for me to burden noble Lords with it, and I shall not do so unless I see powerful indications from a certain quarter that I should give your Lordships a full explanation of the Statute Quia Emptores and sub-grants "non obstante Quia Emptores". However, if noble Lords deprive me of that pleasure, I am content to beg to move.

On Question, Amendment agreed to.

Clause 95 [County courts and county court divisions]:

5.20 p.m.

Lord MELCHETT moved Amendment No. 55: Page 55, line 13, leave out ("Secretary of State after consultation with the").

The noble Lord said: My Lords, this Amendment was spoken to with Amendment No. 7. I beg to move.

On Question, Amendment agreed to.

The LORD CHANCELLOR moved Amendment No. 56: Line 16, leave out ("by order") and insert ("in directions given").

The noble and learned Lord said: My Lords, in moving Amendment No. 56, I propose to refer also to Amendments Nos. 57, 58 and 59 which, taken together, provide a further example of the preferred method of exercising flexible control of courts administration to which I referred earlier.

Although it has been the practice hitherto for the Secretary of State to make provision by order as to the holding of county courts, the experience gained in my Department in recent years points to the advantage of enabling those administrative details to be governed by directions. The appropriate reference to such directions has therefore been inserted in subsection (2) of the new Section 1 of the County Courts Act (Northern Ireland) 1959, and the substantial Amendment follows at the beginning of the new Section 2 of that Act.

Having considered the detailed purposes for which provision should be made in Section 2, I have formed the view that apart from the places at which courts are to be held and the number of ordinary sittings to be arranged in each year, I should also be concerned with the ordinary hours of sitting of county courts, the nature of the business to be transacted and the occasional need to cancel a sitting where insufficient business is forthcoming. The final Amendment is consequential on that change. I beg to move.

On Question, Amendment agreed to.

The LORD CHANCELLOR moved Amendments Nos. 57 to 59: Line 31, leave out from ("The") to end of line 32 and insert ("Lord Chancellor may give directions as to—"). Leave out lines 37 to 40 and insert—

1. ("(c) the ordinary hours of sitting of county courts;
2. (d) the nature of the business to be transacted by any county court at any place;
3. (e) the cancellation of any sitting of a county court for which provision has been made under this Act where there is no, or insufficient, business to be transacted at that sitting; and").

Page 56, line 3, leave out from ("the") to end of line 5 and insert ("Lord Chancellor to be necessary or proper").

On Question, Amendments agreed to.

Clause 96 [Times of sitting of county courts]:

Lord MELCHETT moved Amendment No. 60: Page 56, line 9, leave out ("Secretary of State") and insert ("Lord Chancellor").

The noble Lord said: My Lords, this Amendment was spoken to with Amendment No. 7. I beg to move.

On Question, Amendment agreed to.

Lord MELCHETT moved Amendments Nos. 61 to 63:

Line 11, leave out ("times") and insert ("days").

Line 17, leave out ("times") and insert ("days").

Line 18, leave out ("times") and insert ("days").

The noble Lord said: My Lords, Amendment No. 61, together with Amendments Nos. 62, 63 and 72, are intended simply to clarify the main purpose for which Section 4 of the County Courts Act (Northern Ireland) 1959 was drafted. It will be clearer to refer to days of sitting rather than to times, which was the expression formerly used. I beg to move Amendments Nos. 61 to 63 en bloc.

On Question, Amendments agreed to.

Lord MELCHETT moved Amendments Nos. 64 and 65: Line 20, leave out ("Secretary of State") and insert ("Lord Chancellor"). Clause 97, page 57, line 11, leave out ("Secretary of State") and insert ("Lord Chancellor").

The noble Lord said: My Lords, I beg to move Amendments Nos. 64 and 65 en bloc. These Amendments were spoken to with Amendment No. 7.

On Question, Amendments agreed to.

Lord MELCHETT moved Amendment No. 66: Line 29, leave out ("this Act") and insert ("any statutory provision").

The noble Lord said: My Lords, one of the purposes of the new Section 61A which will be inserted in the County Courts Act (Northern Ireland) 1959 by Clause 97 of the Bill is to enable additional civil jurisdiction to be conferred on circuit registrars. While the new Section 61A(2) itself provides that such additional jurisdiction may be conferred by Order in Council, it is of course possible for any Statute to confer jurisdiction upon such officers, and this Amendment simply tikes account of that possibility. I beg to move.

On Question, Amendment agreed to.

Clause 99 [Qualifications of county court judges and deputy judges]:

Lord MELCHETT moved Amendment No. 67: Page 58, line 31, leave out from ("who") to end of line 32 and insert ("has practised for not less than ten years at the Bar of Northern Ireland;")

The noble Lord said: My Lords, this Amendment was taken with Amendment No. 5. I beg to move.

On Question, Amendment agreed to.

Clause 100 [Assignment of resident magistrates].:

The LORD CHANCELLOR moved Amendment No. 68: Page 59, leave out lines 19 to 21 and insert:

Appointment and assignment of resident magistrates.

("100. For section 9 of the Magistrates' Courts Act (Northern Ireland) 1964 there shall be substituted the following section— 9.—(1) Her Majesty may, on the recommendation of the Lord Chancellor, appoint fit and proper persons to be resident magistrates, being persons who at the dates of their appointments have practised for not less than seven years either as a member of the Bar of Northern Ireland or as a solicitor of the Supreme Court. (2) Without prejudice to section 7, a resident magistrate on his appointment shall forthwith take the oath of allegiance and the judicial oath as required by the Promissory Oaths Act 1868.")

The noble and learned Lord said: My Lords, in speaking to this Amendment, I shall speak also to Amendment No. 106. This Amendment completes the substitution of an express statutory definition of the role of the Lord Chancellor in the appointment and assignment of resident magistrates in Northern Ireland as prescribed by Section 9 of the Magistrates' Courts Act (Northern Ireland) 1964 which has hitherto been defined in the Modification of Enactments Order 1973. Apart from the consequential Amendments made to the two subsections which are to be replaced, this Amendment also takes account of an Amendment which was approved by noble Lords in Committee. This increased from six to seven years the period of professional practice in Northern Iceland required of persons who seek to be appointed as resident magistrates, and Amendment No. 106 removes that Amendment from Schedule 5. I beg to move.

Lord BELSTEAD

My Lords, may I ask the noble and learned Lord why subsection (2) is necessary? I am sure that it is desirable but I do not quite understand why it is necessary. Subsection (2) is printed at the top of page 10 of the Marshalled List.

The LORD CHANCELLOR

My Lords, it is a provision that, on his appointment, a resident magistrate shall forthwith take the oath of allegiance and the judicial oath, as required by the Promissory Oaths Act. That I would expect to be a reasonable requirement. I do not know that I need to say more.

Lord BELSTEAD

My Lords, I think that is a most satisfactory reply, and I am most grateful to the noble and learned Lord.

Lord MELCHETT

My Lords, I think that it would be helpful to both my noble and learned friend and the noble Lord opposite if I told them that this is a perfectly standard provision for judicial appointees. My noble and learned friend was perfectly correct in the full reply which he has already given.

Lord BELSTEAD

My Lords, by leave of the House may I say that I was not deliberately being disruptive. What I do not quite understand, and perhaps the Government would like to write to me, is this. If this is already written into legislation, I do not quite see why it needs to be repeated. That is my only point. I apologise to the noble and learned Lord; there is no reason why he should pick up all these points.

The LORD CHANCELLOR

My Lords, I am absolutely fascinated! I shall write to the noble Lord.

On Question, Amendment agreed to.

5.30 p.m.

Viscount BROOKEBOROUGH moved Amendment No. 69: After Clause 100 insert the following new clause:

Retiring age of resident magistrate may be 72.

(". In section 11 of the Magistrates' Courts Act (Northern Ireland) 1964 there shall be added at the end the following subsection: (2) A resident magistrate appointed in accordance with this Act shall vacate his office at the end of the completed year of service in the course of which he attains the age of 70: Provided that where the Lord Chancellor considers it desirable in the public interest to retain him in office after that time, the Lord Chancellor may from time to time authorise him to continue in office up to such age not exceeding 72 as the Lord Chancellor thinks fit".").

The noble Viscount said: My Lords, the object of this Amendment is quite simply to give to the noble and learned Lord, in his office as Lord Chancellor, the option to allow resident magistrates to continue in that position up to the age of 72. I beg to move.

The LORD CHANCELLOR

My Lords, I am happy to accept this Amendment in principle. The present compulsory retirement age for resident magistrates in Northern Ireland is 70. This Amendment is designed to enable me to prolong the tenure of office up to the age of 72. This is the position in England, and I think it is appropriate that it should be done also in respect of Northern Ireland. But there are some technical defects in the Amendment at the moment with which I do not think I need trouble the noble Viscount. If he will agree to withdraw the Amendment, I will ensure that the point is restored in an appropriate form in due course.

Viscount BROOKEBOROUGH

My Lords, I should like to thank the noble and learned Lord for accepting the principle of the Amendment. I am sure that it will be greeted with a great deal of satisfaction. I beg leave to withdraw the Amendment.

Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.

Clause 101 [Petty sessions and petty sessions districts]:

Lord MELCHETT moved Amendment No. 70: Page 59, line 33, leave out ("The Secretary of State, after consultation with").

The noble Lord said: My Lords, this Amendment was taken with Amendment No. 7. I beg to move.

On Question, Amendment agreed to.

The LORD CHANCELLOR moved Amendment No. 71: Line 36, leave out from ("The") to end of line 37 and insert ("Lord Chancellor may give directions as to—").

The noble and learned Lord said: My Lords, it may be convenient to discuss Amendment No. 73 with this Amendment. The first Amendment makes the same change in respect of control of administration in the magistrates' court as that now provided in respect of the county courts; that is, that control should be exercised by the directions of the Lord Chancellor rather than by order. The second Amendment—No. 73—is consequential. I beg to move.

On Question, Amendment agreed to.

Lord MELCHETT moved Amendments Nos. 72 to 78:

Line 39, leave out ("times when") and insert ("days on which")

Page 60, line 5, leave out from ("to") to the end of line 7 and insert ("the Lord Chancellor to be necessary or proper.")

Clause 103, page 61, line 27, leave out ("Secretary of State") and insert ("Lord Chancellor")

Line 30, leave out ("Secretary of State") and insert ("Lord Chancellor")

Clause 104, page 61, line 35, leave out ("Secretary of State") and insert ("Lord Chancellor")

Line 42, leave out ("Secretary of State") and insert ("Lord Chancellor")

Page 62, line 4, leave out ("Secretary of State") and insert ("Lord Chancellor")

The noble Lord said: My Lords, it may be for the convenience of the House if I move the next seven Amendments en bloc. No. 72 was discussed with No. 61, No. 73 with No. 71, and Amendments Nos. 74 to 78 were all discussed with Amendment No. 7. I beg to move.

On Question, Amendments agreed to.

Clause 112 [Oaths and affidavits]:

The LORD CHANCELLOR moved Amendment No. 79: Page 65, line 40, at end insert ("the Lord Chancellor or by")

The noble and learned Lord said: My Lords, this Amendment is designed to add the Lord Chancellor to those who by subsection (3) of Clause 112 have the power to authorise officers performing duties in relation to any court to administer oaths or take affidavits. Commissioners for oaths themselves will continue to be appointed by the Lord Chief Justice by virtue of the provisions of subsection (1), but it is very much for the convenience of members of the public if officers of the court can administer oaths or take affidavits. This Amendment would enable the Lord Chancellor to designate certain officials of an appropriate rank to perform that function, while preserving the power of the judge of the court to do so in his discretion should the need arise. I beg to move.

Viscount BROOKEBOROUGH

My Lords, may I give an example and ask whether it meets the case. There are places in Northern Ireland where there is one solicitor operating in the town and he is the commissioner for oaths; no other commissioner for oaths exists. Will this in every case enable the clerk of the petty sessions automatically to be the commissioner for oaths over an area rather wider than is covered by the actual jurisdiction of his court? Will he in fact be a full commissioner for oaths?

The LORD CHANCELLOR

My Lords, I am advised that it would be doubtful whether it would be proper to make them full commissioners for oaths, so enabling them to do work for which they are paid fees, outside the course of their ordinary duties. Since 1976 all solicitors in Northern Ireland have automatically been commissioners for oaths, and therefore there is not the same shortage of commissioners in country districts as there may have been before 1976. Secondly, while I am aware that most clerks of petty sessions are in fact appointed commissioners for oaths, following the normal procedure which applies to anybody else who is not a solicitor, these clerks will in future be members of the new court service; I am doubtful whether it would be right to single them out by a provision in the Bill that they should by virtue of their office be commissioners for oaths when other members of the new service such as chief clerks of county courts may have claims which are equally strong. One of the purposes of this Amendment is to enable the Lord Chancellor to designate one or more officers in each court to take oaths and affidavits in the course of their duties in relation to their courts, and the possibility of so designating clerks of petty sessions was in my mind when this Amendment was tabled.

With regard to the general point about the expense of applying to become a commissioner for oaths and the restrictions, geographical in nature, which are often imposed on such appointments, I agree that perhaps this is a matter which needs looking at, and the Lord Chief Justice has said that he will be glad to consider it with me. I hope that will be of some satisfaction to the noble Viscount.

Viscount BROOKEBOROUGH

I thank the noble and learned Lord.

On Question, Amendment agreed to.

Clause 116 [Fees]:

Lord MELCHETT moved Amendments Nos. 80 to 82:

Page 68, line 9, leave out ("Secretary of State") and insert ("Lord Chancellor")

Page 68, line 15, leave out ("Secretary of State") and insert ("Lord Chancellor")

After Clause 116, insert the following new clause:

Transfer of certain functions relating to courts to Lord Chancellor.

(" .—(1) The functions heretofore exercisable by the Secretary of State under the enactments listed in subsection (2) and under any instrument made under any such enactment are hereby transferred to the Lord Chancellor.

(2) The enactments referred to in subsection (1) are—

1. (a) in the Administration of Justice Act (Northern Ireland) 1954, sections 11 and 14;
2. (b) the Coroners Act (Northern Ireland) 1959;
3. (c) the County Courts Act (Northern Ireland) 1959;
4. (d) the Magistrates' Courts Act (Northern Ireland) 1964 (except section 46);
5. (e) the Judgments (Enforcement) Act (Northern Ireland) 1969; and
6. (f) Article 8 of the Administration of Justice (Northern Ireland) Order 1975.")

The noble Lord said: My Lords, I beg to move Amendments Nos. 80 to 82. These were discussed with Amendment No. 7.

On Question, Amendments agreed to.

Clause 118 [Making and control of subordinate legislation]:

Lord MELCHETT moved Amendments Nos. 83 and 84:

Page 69, line 1, leave out from ("by") to second ("to") in line 2 and insert ("the preceding provisions of this Act to make an order or")

Page 69, line 6, leave out from beginning to ("shall") and insert ("this Act (except an order under section 68(3) or 116 or regulations under section 109)")

The noble Lord said: My Lords, I beg to move Amendments Nos. 83 and 84. The effect of Amendment No. 83 is to make all ordinary orders, apart from Orders in Council, which are dealt with in subsection (3), subject to annulment in pursuance of a Resolution of either House of Parliament, except an order under Clause 68(3), which is the power to establish a branch of the Probate Office, Clause 116, which provides for the fixing of fees, and regulations under Clause 109, which will lay down the procedure for the enrolment of instruments in the Supreme Court.

On Question, Amendments agreed to.

5.40 p.m.

Lord MELCHETT moved Amendments Nos. 85 and 86:

Line 17, after ("Order") insert ("in Council").

Line 18, after ("Order") insert ("in Council").

The noble Lord said: My Lords, I beg to move Amendments Nos. 85 and 86, which are purely drafting Amendments.

On Question, Amendments agreed to.

Schedule 2 [Departments of the Supreme Court]:

Lord MELCHETT moved Amendments Nos. 87 to 89:

Page 75, line 4, column 2, leave out ("Permanent") and insert ("Principal").

Schedule 3 [Statutory Offices]:

Page 76, line 10, column 1, leave out ("Permanent") and insert ("Principal").

Page 76, line 12, column 4, leave out ("Secretary of State") and insert ("Lord Chancellor").

The noble Lord said: My Lords, I beg to move Amendments Nos. 87 to 89. Amendments Nos. 87 and 88 were discussed with Amendment No. 22. Amendment No. 89 was discussed with Amendment No. 7. I beg to move.

On Question, Amendments agreed to.

Schedule 5 [Minor and consequential amendments]:

Lord MELCHETT moved Amendment No. 90: Page 89, line 30, at end insert— In section 18 for the words from "a fee of one shilling" to the end substitute the words "such fee as may be prescribed by rules of court made under section 55 of the Judicature (Northern Ireland) Act 1978".".

The noble Lord said: My Lords, I beg to move Amendment No. 90. This Amendment relates to an outdated provision of the Juries Act (Ireland) 1871 which covers the fee payable for a printed copy of the panel of jurors summoned by the under-sheriff for a particular court. The existing provision has fixed the fee at the now sadly unrealistic figure of one shilling. The Amendment would substitute a more flexible provision enabling the appropriate fee to be fixed by rules of the Supreme Court. I beg to move.

On Question, Amendment agreed to.

The LORD CHANCELLOR moved Amendment No. 91: Page 96, line 27, leave out from beginning to end of line 2 on page 97.

The noble and learned Lord said: My Lords, I beg to move Amendment No. 91. With this Amendment, I shall speak to Amendments Nos. 92 and 121. These Amendments are consequential on the Northern Ireland (Emergency Provisions) Bill which was passed by the House at the beginning of last month and which is now under consideration in another place. This consolidation Bill will consolidate the Northern Ireland (Emergency Provisions) Act 1973 and certain subsequent amending enactments, and it is intended to come into operation on 1st June this year. A consolidation will therefore be in force before the present Bill, so it becomes necessary to replace the references in this Bill to the Northern Ireland (Emergency Provisions) Act 1973 with the corresponding references to the new consolidation. That is the effect of these three Amendments. I beg to move.

On Question, Amendment agreed to.

Lord MELCHETT moved Amendment No. 92: Page 97, line 26, at end insert—

("The Northern Ireland (Emergency Provisions) Act 1978

In section 2(1)(a) and 3(1) for the words "of the Supreme Court" substitute the words "of the High Court or the Court of Appeal". For section 6 substitute— Court for trial of scheduled offences. 6.—(1) A trial on indictment of a scheduled offence shall be held only at the Crown Court sitting in Belfast. (2) A person committed for trial for a scheduled offence or two or more offences which are or include scheduled offences shall be committed to the Crown Court sitting in Belfast and section 48 of the Judicature (Northern Ireland) Act 1978 shall have effect accordingly.".

In section 7(6) for the words "Court of Criminal Appeal" where they twice occur substitute the words "Court of Appeal".

In section 33(5) for the words from "shall" to the end of the subsection substitute the words "shall, if he was committed to the Crown Court sitting elsewhere than in Belfast, be treated as having been committed to the Crown Court sitting in Belfast".

In section 33(7) for the words "the Belfast City Commission" substitute the words "the Crown Court sitting in Belfast".").

The noble Lord said: My Lords, this Amendment was spoken to with Amendment No. 91. I beg to move.

On Question, Amendment agreed to.

Lord MELCHETT moved Amendment No. 93: Page 100, line 6, at end insert—

("The Administration of Justice Act (Northern Ireland) 1954

For section 11 substitute— Local custody and control of court-house accommodation. 11. The Lord Chancellor may give directions as to the local custody and control of any courthouse accommodation provided or maintained under this Act.". In section 14(1) for the words from the beginning to "may licence" substitute the words "The Lord Chancellor" and for the word "Ministry" where it twice occurs substitute the words "Lord Chancellor".").

The noble Lord said: My Lords, I beg to move Amendment No. 93 and I should like to speak also to Amendment No. 122. Amendment No. 93 would substitute in the Act of 1954 a new section representing a distillation of lengthy and now outdated provisions. Amendment Nos. 93 and 122 also take account of the forthcoming transfer of ministerial responsibility for the courts in Northern Ireland. I beg to move.

On Question, Amendment agreed to.

Lord MELCHETT moved Amendment No. 94:

Line 8, at end insert — (" ( ) in subsection (2) for the words "Ministry of Finance" substitute the word "Treasury";").

The noble Lord said: My Lords, this is purely a drafting Amendment. I beg to move.

On Question, Amendment agreed to.

Lord MELCHETT moved Amendment No. 95: Page 100, line 50, at end insert—

(" The Coroners Act (Northern Ireland) 1959

In section 1, for the words from the beginning to "responsible" substitute the words "The Lord Chancellor shall be responsible".

In section 2(1) for the words from the beginning to "may appoint" substitute the words "The Lord Chancellor may appoint" and for the words from "the Minister, after" to the end substitute the words "the Lord Chancellor, after consultation with the Treasury, may determine and may also, in exercise of his powers under section 69 of the Judicature (Northern Ireland) Act 1978, appoint coroner's officers and other officers to assist such coroners".

In sections 2(2) and 3 for the word "Minister" substitute the words "Lord Chancellor".

In section 5 for the words from "moneys" to the end substitute the words "moneys provided by the Parliament of the United Kingdom".

In section 6(2) for the word "Minister" where it twice occurs substitute the words "Lord Chancellor".

In sections 26 and 27 for the word "Ministry" wherever it occurs substitute the words "Lord Chancellor".

In section 36(1) for the word "Ministry" wherever it occurs substitute the words "Lord Chancellor", for the words "Ministry of Finance" substitute the word "Treasury" and for the words from "or coroners' officers" to "by the Ministry" substitute the words "or registered medical practitioners employed".").

The noble Lord said: My Lords, I beg to move Amendment No. 95. This Amendment was spoken to with Amendment No. 29. I beg to move.

On Question, Amendment agreed to.

The LORD CHANCELLOR moved Amendment No. 96:

Page 101, line 1, at end insert — ("For section 5 substitute— Additional and extra-ordinary sittings. 5.—(1) The Lord Chancellor may, "where he considers it expedient to do so so for the purpose of avoiding delay in the administration of justice, give directions for the holding of sittings of the county court in addition to the ordinary sittings fixed under this Act. (2) Subject to county court rules and to any directions given by the Lord Chancellor under section 2 or subsection (1), a judge may, in addition to the ordinary sittings, sit at any other time or times for the hearing of any proceedings where he is satisfied that such additional sitting is necessary or expedient for the doing of justice between the parties.". In section 6(2) for the words from "from hearing" to the end substitute the words "or circuit registrar from hearing and determining any civil action which he is authorised by any enactment or by county court rules to hear and determine".").

The noble and learned Lord said: My Lords, this is largely a drafting Amendment but it makes one change of substance. The new Sections 2 and 4 of The County Courts Act (Northern Ireland) 1959 provide for the Lord Chancellor to give directions as to the ordinary sittings of county courts, and for a calendar of such sittings to be published in advance for the forthcoming year. Section 5 of the County Courts Act makes provisions for additional sittings to be held if necessary, and the difference which this Amendment will make is that the Lord Chancellor will be able to order additional sittings for the purpose of transacting all kinds of business and not just for criminal appeals from magistrates' courts. It is not likely that this power will often be used in relation to the transaction of ordinary civil business, but it is clearly necessary that it should exist so as to enable the system to cope if there is a sudden increase in business in a particular district which, in the absence of this power would lead to delays. I beg to move.

On Question, Amendment agreed to.

Lord MELCHETT moved Amendments Nos. 97 and 98: Page 101, line 7, after ("words") insert ("tried"). line 10, at end insert— ("In section 38 for the words "section sixteen of the Summary Jurisdiction Act (Northern Ireland) 1953" substitute the words "section 85 of the Magistrates' Courts Act (Northern Ireland) 1964".")

The noble Lord said: My Lords, I beg to move Amendments Nos. 97 and 98. They are both purely drafting Amendments. I beg to move.

On Question, Amendments agreed to.

Lord MELCHETT moved Amendment No. 99:

Page 101, leave out lines 25 to 31 and insert— In section 89—

1. (a) in subsection (1) for the words "Ministry of Finance" substitute the word "Treasury";
2. (b) in subsection (3) for the words "names of the county court judge and the clerk of the Crown and peace for the time being" substitute the words "name of such officer of the county court as may be designated by the Lord Chancellor".

In section 100—

1. (a) in subsection (1) for the words "Every clerk of the Crown and peace" substitute the words "Such officer of the county court as may be designated by the Lord Chancellor under section 98(3)" 671 and for the words from "transferred" to the end substitute the words "transferred to the Consolidated Fund of the United Kingdom";
2. (b) in subsection (3) for the words from "transferred" to the end substitute the words "transferred to the Consolidated Fund of the United Kingdom under subsection (1) is so entitled, the court may by order so declare, and the Treasury shall issue out of the Consolidated Fund of the United Kingdom such sums as may appear to the Treasury to be necessary to provide for payment thereof accordingly."."

The noble Lord said: My Lords, I beg to move Amendment No. 99. With this Amendment I should like to speak to Amendments Nos. 103 and 105. These drafting Amendments effect textual changes in the County Courts Act (Northern Ireland) 1959. These are drafting Amendments and no more. I beg to move.

On Question, Amendment agreed to.

Lord MELCHETT moved Amendments Nos. 100 to 103:

Page 101, line 33, leave out ("Secretary of State") and insert ("Lord Chancellor").

Page 101, line 39, leave out ("Secretary of State") and insert ("Lord Chancellor").

Page 101, line 42, leave out ("Secretary of State") and insert ("Lord Chancellor").

Page 102, leave out lines 8 to 10 and insert—

("(a) for subsection (1) substitute—

"(1) Subject to subsection (1A), the Lord Chancellor may, if he thinks fit, remove a judge from office on the ground of incapacity or misbehaviour.".").

The noble Lord said: My Lords, I beg to move Amendments Nos. 100 to 103. Amendments Nos. 100, 101 and 102 were spoken to with Amendment No. 7. I spoke to Amendment No. 103 with Amendment No. 99. I beg to move.

On Question, Amendments agreed to.

The LORD CHANCELLOR moved Amendment No. 104.

Page 102, leave out lines 27 to 32 and insert— ("For section 106 substitute— Salaries and allowances of judges. 106.—(1) There shall be paid to each judge such salary as may be determined by the Lord Chancellor with the consent of the Minister for the Civil Service. (2) The salary payable to any judge shall begin from the date on which the judge takes the oaths required by section 105(3). (3) The Lord Chancellor with the approval of the Minister for the Civil Service may allow to any judge, for the purpose of defraying his travelling and subsistence expenses, such sum as appears reasonable.".

In section 114(2) for the words from "by the Ministry" to the end substitute the words "by the Lord Chancellor with the approval of the Minister for the Civil Service".

In section 116—

1. (a) for the words "Ministry of Finance" wherever they occur substitute the words "Minister for the Civil Service";
2. (b) for the word "Minister" wherever it occurs substitute the words "Lord Chancellor";
3. (c) for the word "Governor" in subsection (4) substitute the words "Lord Chancellor".

In sections 123(2), 125(3) and 126, for the words "Ministry of Finance" wherever they occur substitute the words "Minister for the Civil Service".

In section 132 for the word "Ministry" substitute the words "Lord Chancellor".

For section 134 substitute— Evidence of health. 134. Before recommending any person to Her Majesty for appointment as a county court judge, the Lord Chancellor shall take steps to satisfy himself that that person's health is satisfactory.".

In section 136 for the words from the beginning to the beginning of paragraph (a) substitute the words "There shall be charged on and paid out of the Consolidated Fund of the United Kingdom" and for the words "Ministry of Finance" substitute the word "Treasury".

In section 137 for the words from "provided by" to "all expenses" substitute the words "provided by the Parliament of the United Kingdom all expenses".

In section 138 for the words from "paid into" to the end substitute the words "paid into the Consolidated Fund of the United Kingdom".

In section 142(1) for the words from "the clerk of the Crown and peace" to the end substitute the words "a circuit registrar, commissioner for oaths, a justice of the peace or any officer of the court designated for the purpose by the Lord Chancellor".

In section 144 for the word "Ministry" where it twice occurs substitute the words "Lord Chancellor".

In section 145(1) for the words "the prescribed officer" substitute the words "an officer of the court designated by the Lord Chancellor".

In section 146—

1. (a) in subsections (2) and (6) for the word "Minister" substitute the words "Lord Chancellor";
2. (b) for subsection (3) substitute—

"(3) For the purposes of or in relation to any jurisdiction exercisable by county courts, any such rules and orders as are referred to in section 21(1) and (2) of the Interpretation Act or section 147 of this Act may—

1. (a) be made by the Rules Committee in accordance with the following provisions of this section; and
673
2. (b) be known respectively as "county court rules" and "county court orders".";

(c) in subsection (7) for the word "Ministry" substitute the words "Lord Chancellor";

(d) for subsection (10) substitute—

"(10) County court rules and county court orders made by the Rules Committee shall—

1. (a) be certified under the hand of the members of the Rules Committee, or any three or more of them; and
2. (b) when certified under paragraph (a), be submitted to the Lord Chancellor who, after consultation with the Lord Chief Justice, may allow, disallow or alter them.

(11) County court rules and county court orders made by the Rules Committee as allowed or altered by the Lord Chancellor shall come into operation on such date as the Lord Chancellor may direct.".

In section 147—

1. (a) for the words "make recommendations to the Minister with respect" substitute the words "make county court rules and county court orders with respect";
2. (b) at the end of paragraph (b)(ii) add the words "or by a circuit registrar.".")

The noble and learned Lord said: My Lords, this Amendment seeks to make a number of textual changes to the County Courts Act (Northern Ireland) 1959. As has been the case with many Amendments which we have already considered today, the great majority of these changes are of a drafting nature and are consequential upon the transfer of ministerial responsibility. The remainder, with two important exceptions, restate changes effected by the Northern Ireland (Modification of Enactments—No. 1) Order 1973. Accordingly, there are only two changes of substance with which I need trouble your Lordships.

The first, which concerns the appointment of county court judges, is the substitution, in the 1959 Act, of a new Section 134, the provisions of which are identical to those of Section 16(4) of the Courts Act 1971. The original Section 134, when read with the provisions of Section 116(2) and (3), provided a special procedure whereby applicants for appointment to the county court bench in Northern Ireland could elect not to furnish evidence of their state of health prior to appointment, but if they did so elect they were required to serve a longer than normal term for the purposes of pension entitlement.

I consider that the time is now appropriate to discontinue this complex and little-used procedure and to place prospective county court judges in Northern Ireland on the same footing as prospective Circuit judges in England and Wales in respect of ultimate and entitlement for pension.

The second important change to which would draw attention concerns Sections 146 and 147 of the County Courts Act which relate to the making of county court rules. At present the procedure for making these rules in Northern Ireland differs from that which applies in England and Wales. However, now that the Lord Chancellor is assuming ministerial responsibility for the administration of all courts in Northern Ireland, it is appropriate for the several rulemaking procedures there to correspond so far as possible to their counterparts in England and Wales. I beg to move.

Lord BELSTEAD

My Lords, I was interested in the explanation which the noble and learned Lord gave of new Section 134. Certainly it is persuasive that this should be right—that there should be a health check on judges before they take up their appointments. If the work of judges is anything like the work of the noble and learned Lord this afternoon, who not only has had to speak for the Government but who also has had to act as Chairman, then I think that is some indication of the sort of stamina which is needed.

Before we continue may I say that I hope the noble and learned Lord will not think that the silence of my noble friend and I implies that we are not closely following what is going on; but we have, as it were, reached that stage of the Bill where, if we were playing bridge, I think we should invite the Government to lay their hand down on the table.

The LORD CHANCELLOR

My Lords, I am prepared to do anything that is reasonably suggested, but I think that we have to go through this procedure. I observe the watchful care and attention which the noble Lords are paying to every word that is spoken or, indeed, approved of.

On Question, Amendment agreed to.

Lord MELCHETT: moved Amendments Nos. 105 to 107:

Page 102, line 34, at end insert— ("In Part III of Schedule 2—

1. (a) in paragraph 1, for the words from "provided by" to the end substitute the words "provided by the Parliament of the United Kingdom";
2. (b) in paragraph 2, for the words from "payable" to "derivative" substitute the words "payable out of the Consolidated Fund of the United Kingdom, the derivative";
3. (c) in paragraph 3(1) for the words from "paid into" to the end substitute the words "paid into the Consolidated Fund of the United Kingdom";
4. (d) in paragraph 3(2) for the words from "payments out" to "will secure" substitute the words "payments out of the Consolidated Fund of the United Kingdom or out of moneys provided by the Parliament of the United Kingdom and payments into the Consolidated Fund of the United Kingdom as will secure".")

Page 104, leave out line 30.

Page 104, line 47, at end insert— ("In section 12(1) for the words from the beginning to "the salaries" substitute the words "The Lord Chancellor may, with the consent of the Minister for the Civil Service, determine the salaries".")

The noble Lord said: My Lords, Amendment No. 105 was spoken to when we dealt with Amendment No. 99; Amendment No. 106 was spoken to when we considered Amendment No. 68, and Amendment No. 107 is purely a drafting Amendment. I beg to move.

On Question, Amendments agreed to.

5.54 p.m.

The LORD CHANCELLOR moved Amendment No. 108:

Page 105, line 5, at end insert— ("In section 20 for the word "Ministry" where it twice occurs substitute the words "Lord Chancellor" and for the words "Ministry of Finance" substitute the word "Treasury". In section 22 for the word "Ministry" substitute the words "Lord Chancellor". In section 23—

1. (a) for the word "Minister" wherever it occurs substitute the words "Lord Chancellor";
676
2. (b) in subsection (2) for the words from "the majority" to the end substitute the words "shall include at least two resident magistrates, one practising barrister and one practising solicitor";
3. (c) in subsection (4) for the words from "by the Minister" to the end substitute the words "by the Lord Chancellor on the advice of or after consultation with the Rules Committee and after consultation with the Lord Chief Justice".

In section 24 for the word "Minister" substitute the words "Lord Chancellor". In section 25(1) for the word "Ministry" substitute the words "Secretary of State" and in section 25(2) for the word "Minister" substitute the words "Lord Chancellor".")

The noble and learned Lord said: My Lords, this Amendment represents a series of textual changes to the Magistrates Court Act (Northern Ireland) 1964. The majority of changes are either purely consequential upon the transfer of minissterial responsibility, or they re-state provisions of the Northern Ireland (Modification of Enactments—No. 1) Order 1973. There is one change about which I should say a little and that is the textual Amendment of Section 23 concerning the Magistrates' Courts Rules Committee and the making of court rules.

Heretofore Magistrates' Courts Rules in Northern Ireland have been made by the Secretary of State on the recommendation of the Rules Committee. With the transfer of ministerial responsibility, it is appropriate that rules should henceforth be made by the Lord Chancellor and that the procedures should correspond to those which apply to the making of similar rules in England and Wales. This is achieved by Amendments noted at paragraphs (a) and (c). The opportunity has also been taken to clarify the provisions of Section 23 in respect of the composition of the Rules Committee which will remain at a maximum of nine but which will include at least two resident magistrates, one practising barrister and one solicitor. I beg to move.

On Question, Amendment agreed to.

Lord MELCHETT moved Amendment No. 109: Line 13, at end insert — ("In section 46 for the word "Governor" substitute the words "Secretary of State".")

The noble Lord said: My Lords, this is a drafting Amendment.

On Question, Amendment agreed to.

Lord MELCHETT moved Amendments Nos. 110 to 123:

Line 21, at end insert— ("In section 95 for the word "Ministry" wherever it occurs substitute the words "Lord Chancellor".").

Line 35, at end insert— ("In section 152(2) for the words from "paid into" to "so, however" substitute the words "paid into the Consolidated Fund of the United Kingdom so, however".").

Line 38, at end insert— ("For section 168 substitute— Expenses. 168.—(1) Any expenses incurred by the Lord Chancellor in performing his functions under this Act or any increase in the expenses of the Lord Chancellor in defraying any sums authorised by this Act to be paid, or which are attributable to the performance of any function conferred by this Act, shall be defrayed out of moneys provided by the Parliament of the United Kingdom. (2) There shall be charged on and paid out of the Consolidated Fund of the United Kingdom the salaries payable to resident magistrates under this Act or the Resident Magistrates (Belfast) Act 1911. (3) Any expenses incurred by or in connection with the Rules Committee shall be defrayed as part of the expenses incurred by the Lord Chancellor in performing his functions under this Act.".").

Page 109, line 41, at end insert—

(" The Administration of Justice (Northern Ireland) Order 1975

In Article 8(2) for the words "Secretary of State, on the recommendation of" substitute the words "Lord Chancellor, after consultation with" and for the words "Secretary of State" substitute the words "Lord Chancellor".").

Schedule 6, page 112, leave out lines 33 to 37 and insert— (" 9. Until an order under section 68(3) comes into force in relation to any place in which heretofore there was established a district probate registry, that registry shall continue in existence and—

1. (a) shall be deemed to be a branch office of the Probate and Matrimonial Office;
2. (b) may transact such of the business of that Office as may be specified in directions given by the Lord Chancellor; and
3. (c) may be placed under the supervision of a circuit registrar.

10. Unless and until an Order in Council under section 69(3) comes into force any person heretofore holding office or serving in or in connection with county courts or magistrates' courts shall continue to do so as if he had been appointed under section 69(1) upon the terms and conditions on which he heretofore held office or served.")

Page 113, line 14, leave out ("Secretary of State") and insert ("Lord Chancellor").

Page 113, Line 27, leave out ("Secretary of State") and insert ("Lord Chancellor").

Page 114, line 21, leave out ("except that of Master (Taxing Office).").

Schedule 7, page 116, line 47, at end insert—

("12 & 13 Vict. c. 105.

The Renewable Leasehold Conversion Act 1849.

Section 21.")

line 49, at end insert—

("14 & 15 Vict. c. 20.

The Fee-Farm Rents (Ireland) Act 1851.

In section 1, the words from "and save and except" to the end of the section.")

Page 120, line 10, at end insert—

("50 & 51 Vict. c. 33.

The Land Law (Ireland) Act 1887.

Section 7.")

Page 123, leave out lines 2 to 6 and insert—

"1978 c..

The Northern Ireland (Emergency Provisions) Act 1978.

Section 34(1).")

Page 124, line 58, at end insert—

—1954 c. 9 (N.I.).

The Administration of Justice Act (Northern Ireland) 1954.

Section 12. In section 13(1) and (2) the words" (whether in the same or another county)". Section 13(6). In section 16(1) the word "(Ulster)". Section 16(2). Section 17. Section 22. Section 24. Section 26. Section 29.")

Page 125, line 26, at end insert—

(" 1959 c. 15 (N.I.).

The Coroners Act (Northern Ireland) 1959.

Section 4. Section 36(2). In section 40 the definitions of "Ministry" and "Minister",")

The noble Lord said: My Lords, it might be for the convenience of the House if I move Amendments Nos. 110 to 123 en bloc, if that is in order. Amendment No. 110 was spoken to with Amendment No. 7. Amendments Nos. 111, 112 and 114 are drafting Amendments. Amendments No. 113, 115 and 116 were also spoken to when we discussed Amendment No. 7. Amendment No. 117 was taken with Amendment No. 40. Amendments Nos. 118 to 120 were spoken to with Amendment No. 54. Amendment No. 121 was spoken to with Amendment No. 93. Amendment No. 123 was spoken to when we discussed Amendment No. 29. I hope that that goes some way towards laying our cards on the table, as the noble Lord requested. I beg to move.

On Question, Amendments agreed to.

The LORD CHANCELLOR moved Amendment No. 124:

Page 125, column 3, leave out lines 27 to 40 and insert— ("In section 3(1) the words "by the Ministry". Section 3(2). Section 6(2)(b) and (c). In section 10(4) the words from "Except'. to "1956". Section 14.").

The noble and learned Lord said: My Lords, with this Amendment I will speak to the next three Amendments—Amendments Nos. 125, 126 and 127. In moving this Amendment, I should like to make a correction to it. After the words "Section 6(2)(b) and (c)" the words "Section 7" should be inserted, and I propose to move the Amendment in that form. This repeal of Section 7 of the County Courts Act (Northern Ireland) 1959 is consequential on Amendment No. 58. I hope that that is in order. These Amendments effect further repeals to the County Courts Act (Northern Ireland) 1959. Section 7 is repealed because the ordinary hours of sitting will, in accordance with Clause 95, be provided for in directions given by the Lord Chancellor under Section 2 of the County Courts Act (Northern Ireland) 1959.

Sections 108 to 110, and Sections 112 and 113 deal with the appointment of the staff of the county court service and other county court officials and are replaced by the provisions of Clause 69 of the Bill when read in conjunction with the transitional provisions Schedule. Sections 116(2) and (3) and 146(1) are repealed consequential on Amendment No. 103. The other additional repeals are either consequential on the transfer of ministerial responsibility of the courts or simply prune the Act of "dead wood" in preparation for a new reprint. I beg to move.

On Question, Amendment agreed to.

6 p.m.

Lord MELCHETT moved Amendments Nos. 125 to 127:

Page 126, column 3, leave out lines 3 to 5 and insert—

("Sections 108 to 110.

In section 111(1) the words from the beginning to 1954".

Sections 112 and 113.

Section 115.

Section 116(2) and (3).")

Page 126, column 3, line 8, at end insert—

("Section 146(1).")

Page 126, column 3, line 20, at end insert—

("In section 152(1) the definitions of "Minister" and "Ministry".

Section 154(2).

Schedule 1.")

The noble Lord said: My Lords, this Amendment was spoken to with Amendment No. 124, as indeed were Amendments Nos. 126 and 127. I beg to move these three Amendments en bloc.

On Question, Amendments agreed to.

The LORD CHANCELLOR moved Amendments Nos. 128 and 129:

Page 126, column 3, leave out lines 47 to 51 and insert— ("Section 14(2). In section 22 the words "by the Ministry". Section 23(3) and (8). In section 24(a) the word "fees". In section 25 the words from "of the Ministry" to the end of paragraph (a). Sections 27 to 29.") Page 127, column 3, line 7, at end insert— ("Section 173(2).").

The noble and learned Lord said: My Lords, with this Amendment I will speak to Amendment No. 129. These Amendments provide for additional repeals to the Magistrates' Courts Act (Northern Ireland) 1964. Sections 27 to 29, which provide for the appointment and duties of clerks of petty sessions, are repealed, since adequate provision on these matters can now be made under Clause 69 of the Bill. The repeal of Section 23(2) is consequential on Amendment No. 108. The other new repeal is consequential on the transfer of ministerial responsibility for magistrates' courts. I beg to move.

On Question, Amendments agreed to.

Lord MELCHETT moved Amendments Nos. 130 to 134:

Page 127, column 3, line 16, at end insert— ("Sections 4 and 5.")

Page 127, column 3, leave out lines 51 to 55 and insert— ("In section 129(1) the definitions of "the Minister" and "the Ministry".

In Schedule 4, Part II, the entry relating to section 70 of the Landlord and Tenant Law Amendment Act Ireland 1860.")

Page 128, line 16, at end insert—

"S.I. 1972/965 (N.I. 15)

The County Courts (Additional Sittings)(Northern Ireland) Order 1972.

The whole Order.")

Page 128, column 3, leave out line 17 and insert— ("Article 6(2), (4) and (6)(b). Article 14(4) and (5).

In Schedule 1 the entries relating to the Fines (Ireland) Act 1851, the Coroners Act (Northern Ireland) 1959, the County Courts Act (Northern Ireland) 1959, the Magistrates' Courts Act (Northern Ireland) 1964 and the Judgments (Enforcement) Act (Northern Ireland) 1969.

In Schedule 2 the entries relating to the Coroners Act (Northern Ireland) 1959, the County Courts Act (Northern Ireland) 1959 and the Magistrates' Courts Act (Northern Ireland) 1964.

In Schedule 3 the entries relating to the Fines Act (Ireland) 1851 and the County Courts Act (Northern Ireland) 1959.

In Schedule 4 the entries relating to the County Courts Act (Northern Ireland) 1959 and the Judgments (Enforcement) Act (Northern Ireland) 1969.")

Page 128, line 19, column 3, leave out from ("28") to end of line 20 and insert ("38(d) and (e), 43, 44, 49 and 60").

The noble Lord said: My Lords, this Amendment, and indeed all the rest of the Amendments, contain consequential repeals and it might be convenient for the House if I moved them en bloc. Amendment No. 130 provides for the repeal of Sections 4 and 5 of the County Courts (Amendment) Act (Northern Ireland) 1959. Amendment No. 131 provides for the repeal of two provisions of the Judgments (Enforcement) Act (Northern Ireland) 1969. The first is consequential on the transfer of ministerial responsibility. The second is consequential on the repeal by Schedule 7 of Section 70 of the Landlord and Tenant Law Amendment Act (Ireland) 1860.

Amendment No. 132 provides for the repeal of the County Court (Additional Sittings)(Northern Ireland) Order 1972. Schedule 5 to this Bill now provides for a new Section 5 to be substituted in the County Courts Act (Northern Ireland) 1959. Finally, Amendments Nos. 133 and 134 provide for the repeal of references in the Northern Ireland (Modification of Enactments—No. 1) Order 1973, to the Fines Act (Ireland) 1851 and numerous other enactments. The relevant provisions of the Fines Act (Ireland) 1851 are repealed by the Bill and the effect of the Modification Order on the other four Acts is subsumed in the textual amendments to those Acts which are now contained in Schedule 5 to the Bill. I beg to move Amendments Nos. 130 to 134 en bloc.

The LORD CHANCELLOR

My Lords, before we say Farewell, and I hope Amen, to the conclusion of this massive list of Amendments, may I thank noble Lords for their participation, and particularly my noble friend Lord Melchett for assisting me. May I thank all noble Lords who have, with such patience and careful attention, attended upon our proceedings and assisted us by their presence in furthering the Report stage of this important Bill. May I also thank noble Lords who have spoken on the Opposition side.

On Question, Amendments agreed to.