HL Deb 24 January 1984 vol 447 c143

The Lord Chancellor rose to move that the Bill be now read a third time.

The noble and learned Lord said: My Lords, I have it in command from His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales that he, having been informed of the purport of the Foreign Limitation Periods Bill, has consented to place his prerogative and interest, so far as they are concerned on behalf of the Duchy of Cornwall, at the disposal of Parliament for the purposes of the Bill.

I ought to apologise for this. I signified the Queen's consent, which of course covers also the Duchy of Lancaster, on Second Reading, but I omitted to signify the consent of His Royal Highness. I hope that both the House and His Royal Highness will forgive me.

No noble Lord having tabled an amendment, and our business for the present done, I think we may look with some satisfaction on a useful piece of law reform which has its origins in the Law Commission's report which I had the pleasure of laying before Parliament only 19 months ago. With two minor exceptions the Bill I placed before the House was in the form advanced by the Law Commission. In one significant respect it has now been further improved, and for that the House should thank the noble Lord, Lord Mishcon, whose amendment in Committee laid bare a possible problem arising out of unduly long foreign limitation periods. The proposal formed the basis of an amendment which was agreed on Report. I should like to thank the noble Lord and the House for their help and patience with a somewhat esoteric form of legislation. I beg to move that this Bill be now read a third time.

Moved, That the Bill be now read a third time.—(The Lord Chancellor.)

Lord Mishcon

My Lords, the noble and learned Lord has, with his usual courtesy, thanked those who assisted him on this Bill, and I believe that the House would in turn wish to thank him for the, as usual, persuasive and very clear way in which he guided the House through a very difficult and complex but, nevertheless, extremely useful measure. I am sure that all your Lordships will wish this Bill success.

On Question, Bill read a third time, and passed, and sent to the Commons.