§ MR. WHITBREAD (Bedford)I beg to give notice that when the Leader of the House moves the proposed Standing Order [Mr. W. H. SMITH here rose, but Mr. WHITBEEAD declined to give way] for carrying over Bills from one Session to another, it is my intention to move as an Amendment—
That the Motion for a Standing Order involving so great a change in the usages of Parliament and the Constitution ought not to be considered until, the House, agreeably to former practice, has had the advantage of the previous consideration of the subject by a Committee of this House.
§ MR. W. H. SMITHI was anxious to save the hon. Gentleman the trouble of giving notice of his Amendment. I have considered the suggestion which was made in the notice of the Amendment given by the right hon. Gentleman the Member for Mid Lothian during the past week, and the many suggestions which have reached me from hon. Friends in different parts of the House, and it was my intention to give notice of the following Resolution:—
That a Select Committee be appointed to inquire whether, by means of an abridged form of procedure, or otherwise, the consideration of Bills partly considered in this House could be facilitated in the ensuing Session of the same Parliament.I propose to move this Resolution on Monday next, in the hope and belief that it will be accepted by the House in the spirit in which it is offered, as a 1506 step towards the consideration of a question which is of great importance to the House itself, and that the Debate will be postponed until we receive the Report of the Committee. I trust that I shall have the support of the right hon. Gentleman opposite.