§ Lord JACQUESMy Lords, I beg to move that this Bill be now read a third time.
§ Moved, That the Bill be now read 3a—(Lord Jacques.)
§ Baroness BIRKMy Lords, I should like to take this opportunity of congratulating my noble friend Lord Jacques on putting forward this important, although quite short, Bill and on the clear and articulate way in which he has presented it to your Lordships' House. I am extremely grateful to him for adopting the revised limits for deposits suggested by the Government and also to the House for accepting them when introduced as Amendments at Committee stage.
This Bill is welcomed by the Government and I am delighted that it has received support from all sides of the House. Indeed, no one has voiced any opposition to it. I hope that it will now receive similar support in another place.
§ Lord JACQUESMy Lords, may I take this opportunity of thanking my noble friend Lady Birk, and the noble Lord, Lord Cullen of Ashbourne, for the support that they have given to this Bill? I should also like to thank my noble friend the 923 Chief Whip for the facilities which she has given to the Bill and, indeed, the whole House for the very kindly way in which they have allowed the Bill to pass so quickly. It goes to the other place with the approval of the Treasury and the Chief Registrar of Friendly Societies, and with all-Party support from this House. I hope that in these circumstances they will find their way clear to pass it without undue delay.
On Question, Bill read 3a, and passed, and sent to the Commons.