HL Deb 29 June 1984 vol 453 c1154

11.40 a.m.

Baroness Faithfull

My Lords, I beg to move that this Bill be now read a third time. In so doing perhaps I may thank those noble Lords who took part in the various stages of the Bill in your Lordships' House. I believe that it returns to the other place and to its promoter, Mr. Timothy Wood, the Member of Parliament for Stevenage, an improved Bill.

During the passage of the Bill the noble and learned Lord the Lord Chancellor gave a fascinating discourse on the history of kidnapping. The noble Lord, Lord Mishcon, aired controversial matters, while strongly and wholeheartedly supporting the Bill. My noble friend the Minister assisted me and the noble Lord, Lord Meston, made a notable maiden speech. I am grateful to the civil servants for the help which they gave me.

Finally, the whole House will be grateful to the noble and learned Lord, Lord Scarman, for moving an amendment at a latter stage of the Bill following the judgment on the Daily case, thus adding consistency to the Bill. We are, as a House indeed grateful to him.

Moved, That the Bill be now read a third time.—(Baroness Faithfull.)

Lord Mishcon

My Lords, one of the difficult tasks of the House is to find different words with which to express our gratitude sincerely to the noble Baroness, Lady Faithfull, on the many occasions on which we do so. This is a further such occasion and I wish to thank her most heartily and to thank the Minister for his unfailing courtesy to which we are absolutely accustomed.

It was my privilege to try to put some testing amendments in regard to the Bill. Although it was a Private Member's Bill, there was united support for its principles. It was right that we had the discussions we had and I agree with the noble Baroness that the Bill goes back to another place in a better state than it was.

The Lord Chancellor (Lord Hailsham of Saint Marylebone)

My Lords, perhaps I may just congratulate my noble friend on having carried a Private Member's Bill through the House. It is always rather enjoyable when one is on the Back-Benches, so to speak, and she has done it so well.

On Question, Bill read a third time, and passed, and returned to the Commons with the amendments.