LAW REFORM (Hansard, 6 February 1970)

The Attorney-General

Since 1964, very considerable progress has been made in improving and modernising the law. The principal subjects which have been or are being dealt with in England and Wales are as follows:

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Titles of relevant Reports	Date of Publication	Whether Implemented
Proposal for the Abolition of the Matrimonial Remedy of Restitution of Conjugal Rights (Law Com. No. 23).	26. 8.69	See (1) below
Exemption Clauses in Contracts. First Report. Amendments to the Sale of Goods Act 1893. (Report by the Law Commission and the Scottish Law Commission) (Law Com. No. 24 and Scot. Law Com. No. 12).	18. 9.69	No.
Family Law, Report on Financial Provision in Matrimonia Proceedings (Law Com. No. 25).	23. 9.69	See (2) below.
Breach of Promise of Marriage (Law Com. No. 26)	15.10.69	See (3) below.

(ii) Other Civil Law Reform Measures

Law Commissions Act 1965.

Administration of Justice Act 1965 (see (4) below).

Family Provision Act 1966.

Matrimonial Causes Act 1967.

Matrimonial Homes Act 1967.

Misrepresentation Act 1967 (see (5) below).

Civil Evidence Act 1968 (see (6) below).

Administration of Justice Act 1969 (see (7) below).

Divorce Reform Act 1969.

Family Law Reform Act 1969 (see (8) below).

37 Consolidation Acts (3 more have been introduced in the present Session).

Administration of Justice Bill (present Session) (see (9) below).

(iii) Criminal Law Revision Committee Proposals
Titles of relevant Reports	Date of Publication	Legislation
Criminal Procedure (Jurors) (Fifth Report)	April, 1964	Criminal Justice Act 1965.
Perjury and Attendance of Witnesses (Sixth Report)	September, 1964	Criminal Procedure (Attendance of Witnesses) 1965.
Felonies and Misdemeanours (Seventh Report)	May, 1965	Criminal Law Act 1967.
Theft and Related Offences (Eighth Report)	May, 1966	Theft Act 1968.
Evidence (Written Statements, Formal Admissions and Notices of Alibi) (Ninth Report).	November, 1966	Criminal Justice Act 1967.
Secrecy of Jury Room (Tenth Report)	August, 1968	No legislation recommended.

Reports under Consideration

Royal Commission on Assizes and Quarter Sessions (see (10) below).

Law Reform Committee's 12th and 14th Reports on Transfer of Title and Acquisition of Easements and Profits by Prescription.

Wilberforce Committee on Positive Covenants Affecting Land.

The remaining recommendations of the Winn Committee on Personal Injuries Litigation and the Payne Committee on the Enforcement of Judgment Debts.

(1) This is the subject of a provision in the Matrimonial Proceedings and Property Bill now before Parliament.

(2) The main part of this report is the subject of the Matrimonial Proceedings and Property Bill. Provisions to give effect to the Law Commission's proposals to abolish the right to claim damages for adultery or enticement are contained in the Law Reform (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill.

(3) This is the subject of a provision of the Law Reform (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill.

(4) Implements, inter alia, the Report of the Pearson Committee on the investment of Funds in Court.

(5) Implements the Tenth Report of the Law Reform Committee.

(6) Implements the Thirteenth, Fifteenth and Sixteenth Reports of the Law Reform Committee.

(7) Implements certain recommendations of the Evershed Committee on Supreme Court Practice and Procedure and the Winn Committee on Personal Injuries Litigation.

(8) Implements the Reports of the Latey Committee on Age of Majority and of the Russell Committee on the Law of Succession in Relation to Illegitimate Persons.

(9) Implements certain recommendations of the Payne Committee on the Enforcement of Judgment Debts and the Winn Committee on Personal Injuries Litigation and, inter alia reconstitutes the Divisions of the High Court.

(10) Accepted in principle.

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