§ 3 p.m.
§ The LORD CHANCELLORMy Lords, I beg to move that the Bill be now read a second time. The Bill is consolidation of the Criminal Appeal (Northern Ireland) Act 1968, the relevant parts of the Judicature (Northern Ireland) Act 1978 and the Criminal Justice (Northern Ireland) Order 1978. The need for this consolidation arises from the Judicature (Northern Ireland) Act 1978, which made radical changes to the structure of the court system in Northern 13 Ireland. It is part of the programme of consolidation resulting from the passage of that Act.
This Bill deals with appeals against conviction and sentence on trial by indictment before the Crown Court and with appeals against certain sentences passed by the Crown Court otherwise than on trial by indictment. It is pure consolidation. It makes no changes in the existing law and, if given a Second Reading this afternoon, it will be referred in the usual way to the Joint Committee on Consolidation Bills. My Lords, I beg to move.
Moved, That the Bill be now read 2a.—(The Lord Chancellor.)
§ Lord BLEASEMy Lords, I wish to thank the noble and learned Lord the Lord Chancellor for the very concise and lucid way in which he has explained the provisions of this consolidation Bill. As well as the matters concerning criminal appeal, I understand that this Bill completes the principal provisions of the Judicature (Northern Ireland) Act 1978, which has effected the much-needed modernisation of the courts and the related procedures in Northern Ireland. This in turn has led to the more efficient working of the courts and the availability of justice. This consolidation Bill is warmly welcomed by this side of the House.
§ The LORD CHANCELLORMy Lords, I am very grateful indeed to the noble Lord for his kind reception of this Bill. My attention was momentarily diverted at the moment when he was speaking part of his kind words. I will study them in Hansard and see whether there is anything that I ought to add to my words of introduction. But I heard the greater part of what the noble Lord had to say and I thought he had got it exactly right.
On Question, Bill read 2a, and referred to the Joint Committee on Consolidation Bills.