HL Deb 29 June 1989 vol 509 cc846-7

3.34 p.m.

The Lord Chancellor (Lord Mackay of Clashfern)

My Lords, I beg to move that this Bill be now read a second time. This is the first consolidation Bill for the whole of the United Kingdom this Session. It is, therefore, particularly appropriate that, once again on this occasion, I should offer my thanks—and I am sure that of the House—to the Law Commission, the Scottish Law Commission and the draftsmen for continuing their important consolidation work.

The first general legislative recognition of extradition came in the Extradition Act 1870. The Fugitive Offenders Act 1967 is currently the main legislation governing extradition to the independent members of the Commonwealth and to the remaining colonies. Part I of the Criminal Justice Act 1988 set out a new system of extradition to foreign states. The Bill consolidates this new legislation about extradition as between the United Kingdom and foreign states with the 1967 legislation about Commonwealth extradition.

The Law Commissions have, in accordance with usual practice, issued a report on this consolidation in which they make a number of recommendations for minor technical amendments in order that a satisfactory consolidation may be achieved.

There is no matter which I need draw to the attention of this House on this occasion, but we can rest assured that, if given a Second Reading, this Bill will be subject to the scrutiny of the Joint Committee on Consolidation Bills.

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

Lord Elwyn-Jones

My Lords, the House will be grateful to the noble and learned Lord for his explanation of this important measure of consolidation. As he indicated in his closing remarks, it will be referred in due course to the Joint Committee on Consolidation Bills which is manned by representatives of both Houses. For their work Parliament ought to be, and is, extremely grateful to them; in this case for work in prospect. We welcome the measure as a valuable addition to the body of the law.

The Lord Chancellor

My Lords, I am grateful to the noble and learned Lord, and I too should like to join with him in thanking members of the Joint Committee on Consolidation Bills for the work which they carry out. It is not the most exciting work that ever occupies parliamentarians; but it is extremely important and we are most grateful to them for the care which they take in so doing.

On Question, Bill read a second time, and referred to the Joint Committee on Consolidation Bills.