§ 2.56 p.m.
§ Lord TREFGARNEMy Lords, I beg to move that this Bill be now read a third time. In these few very brief words I should like first to express my gratitude to your Lordships for your reception of this Bill and for the swift passage which you have accorded it through this House. For, while I believe that your Lordships will agree with me when I say that this Bill must be one of the less controversial with which we have had to deal, none the less its provisions are important. For example, they will allow the citizens of Papua New Guinea, Western Samoa and Nauru to enjoy the same status as other members of the Commonwealth in United Kingdom law, and at the same time remove the few remaining anomalies in our own legislation which might still affect the citizens 379 of these countries or British citizens resident there. Fortunately, this does not appear to have happened so far. However, clearly, this legislation, which is long overdue, should be passed without further delay. Accordingly, I beg to move that this Bill be now read a third time.
§ Moved, That the Bill be now read 3a—(Lord Trefgarne.)
§ On Question, Bill read 3a, and passed.