§ Read a third time; an amendment (privilege) made.
§ Baroness Chalker of WallaseyMy Lords, I beg to move, That the Bill do now pass.
§ Moved, That the Bill do now pass.—(Baroness Chalker of Wallasey.)
§ Lord ReaMy Lords, as my noble friend Lord Judd said at Second Reading, we on these Benches welcome this small but useful Bill. It will make it easier for justice to be done on behalf of those who suffered as a result of the illegal occupation of Kuwait by Iraq.
My only concern is whether, once compensation funds are eventually available from Iraqi oil sales, there will still be a lengthy legal process before claimants receive any payment. Are the British claims which have been laid before the commission already being sorted out and adjudicated pending the arrival of compensation funds? Can the noble Baroness comment on that question in her final remarks?
§ Baroness Chalker of WallaseyMy Lords, it is my understanding that work has already begun on the claims. That is not work of a formal nature because work of a formal nature can only begin when the Bill has passed all its stages in both your Lordships' House and in another place. Every effort will be made to assist those who need help in processing their claims.
I believe that it is right that the Bill should now pass.
§ On Question, Bill passed, and sent to the Commons.