HL Deb 29 June 1865 vol 180 cc917-8

The Standing Orders of the House considered (according to Order).

Moved, That the Standing Orders of the House be dispensed with in relation to Private Bills for the Remainder of the Session.—(The Chairman of Committees.)

LORD CAMPBELL

took the opportunity of suggesting that the number of Members forming the Committees upon Private Bills should be reduced from five to three. The requisition of so large a number as five Members rendered it difficult to find Peers to act upon Committees; and the fact was that the business was really done by the Chairman and the two noble Lords who sat immediately on his right and left hand. The other Members of the Committee were purely ornamental. The number of Members of which the Committees of the other House consisted had already been reduced from five to four.

LORD REDESDALE

said, he thought that five was a much better number than either three or four. But, while objecting to the reduction of the number of the Members of their Lordships' Committees in ordinary cases, he had to ask their Lordships that two particular Bills should be referred to a Committee, to consist of himself and two other noble Lords who were Chairmen of Committees. This he did under exceptional circumstances, and he hoped that the course he proposed in this instance would not be drawn into a precedent.

Motion agreed to.