LAW REFORM (Hansard, 22 March 1973)

§ Mr. Bishop

asked the Attorney-General if he will indicate what further progress has been made with law reform since February 1972; and if he will detail in

1. THE LAW COMMISSION'S PROPOSALS
Titles of Relevant Reports	Date of Publication	Implemented
Exemption Clauses in Contracts First Report: amendments to the Sale of Goods Act 1893 (Joint Report with Scottish Law Commission) (Law Com. No. 24).	18th September 1969	Supply of Goods (Implied Terms) Bill: Passed House of Lords, Report Stage in Commons.
Civil Liability of Vendors and Lessors for Defective Premises (Law Com. No. 40).	16th December 1970	Defective Premises Act 1972 (c. 35)^*.
Polygamous Marriages (Law Com. No. 42).	3rd February 1971	Matrimonial Proceedings (Polygamous Marriages) Act 1972 (c. 38)^*.
Jurisdiction in Matrimonial Causes (Law Com. No. 48).	14th September 1972	^*Domicile and Matrimonial Proceedings Bill: awaiting Committee Stage in Commons.
Statute Law Revision (Joint Report with Scottish Law Commission): Fourth Report (Draft Statute Law Repeals Bill) (Law Com. No. 49).	28th September 1972	Statute Law (Repeals) Bill: before joint Select Committee.

2. OTHER LAW REFORM MEASURES

Received Royal Assent

Civil Evidence Act 1972 (implementing the Law Reform Committee's 17th Report on evidence of Opinion and Expert Evidence).

Criminal Justice Act 1972.

6 Consolidation Acts.

In progress

Administration of Justice Bill (see note).

Domicile and Matrimonial Proceedings Bill^*.

Guardianship Bill.

Solicitors (Amendment) Bill^*

Statute Law (Repeals) Bill.

Supply of Goods (Implied Terms) Bill.

3 Consolidation Bills.

3. REPORTS RECEIVED

Law Reform Committee's 18th Report on Conversion and Detinue.

Law Reform Committee's 19th Report on Interpretation of Wills.

Report of the Committee on Privacy (Chairman: Right Hon. Sir K. Younger, K.B.E.).

Criminal Law Revision Committee's 11th Report on Evidence (General).

Report of the Committee on Death Certification and Coroners (Chairman: His Honour Judge Brodrick).

Report of the Committee on Adoption of Children (Chairman: His Honour Judge Stockdale).

4. MATTERS TO WHICH CONSIDERATION IS BEING GIVEN

(a) By the Law Commission: a large number of topics are under consideration, and are listed in the Law Commission's Seventh Annual Report, Law Com. No. 50 published on 14th December 1972; to this list should be added injuries to unborn children referred to the Commission by the Lord Chancellor on 29th November 1972, and the position of attorneys and other agents during the mental incapacity of the principal, referred to the Commission by the Lord Chancellor on 16th March 1973

(b) By the Law Reform Committee: limitation of actions.

(i) the law on offences against the person (including homicide); an interim report on the Penalty for Murder has been published;

(ii) Theft Act 1968 s. 16 (obtaining pecuniary advantage by deception).

(d) By the Royal Commission under the chairmanship of Lord Pearson: the law relating to Civil Liability and compensation for personal injury.

(e) By Committees set up by the Government:

(i) the law of defamation;

(ii) the law of contempt of court

Notes:

The Administration of Justice Bill includes provisions giving effect to certain recommendations of the Payne Committee on the Enforcement of Judgment Debts, relating to orders for the possession of mortgaged dwelling houses.

Acts and Bills marked ^* were introduced by Private Members.

168W

the OFFICIAL REPORT the subjects dealt with and those awaiting attention.