§ The Lord CHANCELLORMy Lords, I beg to move that this Bill be now read a second time. As your Lordships will see, this is a substantial Bill of 155 clauses and 9 schedules consolidating the law relating to the jurisdiction of, and the practice and procedure before, magistrates' courts and to the function of magistrates' clerks. The consolidation is effected with certain amendments which are the subject of a report by the Law Commission (Cmnd. 7887). Save for these amendments, the Bill is pure consolidation and makes no changes in the existing law. If read a second time by your Lordships, 369 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 ELWYN-JONESMy Lords, I am sure that the magistracy throughout the country will welcome this consolidations, because the multiplicity of legislation relating to the magistrates' court makes it a little difficult for a busy court to see its way through it.
§ The LORD CHANCELLORMy Lords, I am very grateful to the noble and learned Lord, Lord Elwyn-Jones, for his support.
On Question, Bill read 2a, and referred to the Joint Committee on Consolidation Bills.