Part of Clause 4 – in the House of Commons am 12:00 am ar 20 Hydref 1969.
I found it difficult to follow what the Solicitor-General said. I understood him to say that he was not proposing to do anything which would alter the law as decided in Armitage v. Jessop. On the contrary, he proposed to take such steps as might be appropriate to see that it was brought to the attention of more people. But Armitage v. Jessop decided that a person who was not entitled to any costs of bringing the action in the High Court should nevertheless have the costs of execution in the High Court.
There appears to be some inconsistency in what the hon. and learned Gentleman said. I will gladly give way to him, as I thought he was giving way to me, if he would care to clarify the point by making it clear that the Lord Chancellor does not have in mind any rules which would have the effect of reversing Armitage v. Jessop. We should then know rather better where we stand. Apparently he does not wish to intervene and we shall have to read the report. As he does not rise to intervene to put the matter clear, let me state that he has said two things which are inconsistent and that it is unsatisfactory that the House should be left in that situation.