§ LORD JOHN RUSSELLbrought up the Report of "the Select Committee appointed to consider whether the Act 5 &, 6 will. IV., c. 63, is applicable to oaths appointed by law to be taken by Members of this House at the table previous to taking their seats."
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The Report was read by the Clerk at the table as follows:—
The Committee have considered the matters referred to them. The following Resolution was proposed by a Member of the Committee:—
'That, in the opinion of this Committee, the House of Commons is included within the following words of the 8th section of the 5 & 6 Will. IV., c. 62—that is to say—'All bodies now by law or statute or by any valid usage authorized to administer and receive any oath.'
Upon deliberation the Resolution was passed in the negative.
§ LORD JOHN RUSSELLSir, in moving that this Report be laid upon the table, I beg leave to say, as I may be asked a question on the subject, that at this late period of the Session I do not propose to go on with the Oaths Validity Bill. I intend to move that that order be discharged; but, at the same time, I wish to say that this subject is in that state that I think it will be necessary for Parliament to consider it at the very commencement of next Session. I beg leave to move that the order be discharged, and I give notice that I shall, early next Session, bring under the consideration of Parliament the question of the oaths taken by Members of Parliament.
§ Report to lie on the Table.
§ MR. NEWDEGATEsaid, he believed the noble Lord the Member for the City of London, in presenting the Report of the 1288 Committee upon Oaths taken by Members, had moved that it should lie upon the Table, but had not moved that it should be printed, which it was most desirable should be done.
§ LORD JOHN RUSSELLI shall now move that the Report be printed.
§ Report ordered to be printed.