HL Deb 24 October 1990 vol 522 c1402

33 Clause 17, page 14, line 33, leave out '14' and insert '16'.

34 Page 14, line 37, leave out '14' and insert '16'.

35 Page 14, line 38, after '(a)', insert:

36 Page 14, line 43, leave out 'organisations' and insert

37 Page 14, line 46, leave out '8' and insert '9'.

The Lord Chancellor

My Lords, I beg to move that the House do agree with the Commons in their Amendments Nos. 33 to 37 en bloc. In moving these amendments I wish to speak also to Amendments Nos. 98, 99, 118, 119, 189 to 191, 194 to 197 and 203.

These amendments relate to the advisory committee. They add to the category of reserved places on the committee. The total membership is increased to 17 and the lay majority preserved. The person added is a judge who is or has been a circuit judge.

Noble Lords will recall that there has been much discussion about this matter. I ultimately concluded, in the light of all that I had heard, that a person who had been a circuit judge as well as a person who was a circuit judge should be qualified to serve on the committee. Your Lordships will remember that my noble and learned friend Lord Roskill, who spoke in a previous debate, mentioned Mr. Justice Hazan who had been very helpful to him in a fraud inquiry. It would have been extraordinary if such a useful member of that committee, having been appointed to the High Court, should suddenly cease to be a member of the committee. My decision also gives me the option of considering for this appointment members of the High Court Bench who have been circuit judges. I hope that your Lordships will accept these amendments.

Moved, That the House do agree with the Commons in their Amendments Nos. 33 to 37 en bloc. —(The Lord Chancellor.)

On Question, Motion agreed to.