§ 3.45 p.m.
§ The Chairman of Committees (Lord Aberdare)My Lords, I beg to move that this Bill be now read a third time.
I think I ought to mention to your Lordships that on the Second Reading of this Bill I gave an undertaking to the noble Lord, Lord Boyd-Carpenter, that the Committee would look very carefully at what was then Clause 11—it is now in fact Clause 12—relating to the 1172 licensing of sex establishments. We went into this very carefully and convinced ourselves of the need for the clause, which is warmly supported by the Home Office. I am sure the noble Lord will be content. I beg to move.
§ Moved, That the Bill be now read a third time.—(Lord Aberdare.)
§ Lord Boyd-CarpenterMy Lords, I am greatly indebted to the noble Lord the Lord Chairman of Committees for the characteristic care with which he dealt with the point I raised on Second Reading. I am bound to say that I still feel a little unhappy at putting into our law a set of establishments known as "sex-encounter establishments"—an expression which might give rise to misunderstanding, if indeed it be a misunderstanding.
As this curiously named project is supported by all those responsible for dealing with the appalling problems that arise in Soho, I agree with my noble friend the Lord Chairman of Committees that we should not seek further to hold up this Bill. Perhaps the last public act of the GLC—the passing of this Bill—might actually help to redeem some of its past misbehaviours.
§ On Question, Bill read a third time, and passed, and returned to the Commons with amendments.