Order read for consideration of Lords Amendments.

I beg to move, "That the Lords Amendments be now considered."

Perhaps I should explain that this Bill is a completely non-controversial Bill. It passed with hardly any debate through this House and The other House. The Amendments we are about to consider, although they are not technically absolutely drafting Amendments, are yet drafting in character, and they improve the Bill. Unless the House wishes me to give an explanation of each of them, I do not propose to do so.

I am glad that this Bill is now to receive the final sanction of the House. As the hon. Gentleman is aware, I had a little to do with the promotion of this Bill last year, and all I wish to do, in giving it my blessing, is to add that, so far as I know, this is the first time there have been included in a Bill the words which appear in the preamble of this Bill, namely, "equality in law between the sexes." Those words could not be more appropriately used than in regard to equality between parents in the treatment of children.