HC Deb 04 July 1882 vol 271 cc1395-9
MR. SPEAKER

addressed the House, as followeth:—The House having re- solved that the state of Public Business is urgent, I desire to lay upon the Table certain Rules framed by me for the regulation of the Business of the House, while the state of Public Business is urgent.

These Rules are substantially the same as those framed by me in the last Session, and which were, for some time, in operation, with the addition of one Rule relating to Proceedings in Committees of the whole House.

SIR STAFFORD NORTHCOTE

I wish to ask whether the Rules are to apply to the proceedings of this day; and, if so, whether the best way would not be to have the additional Rule read?

MR. SPEAKER

Do I understand that the right hon. Gentleman wishes the Rules to be read at length?

SIR STAFFORD NORTHCOTE

I merely put the Question whether the Rules would apply to the Business of this day; and, if so, whether the new Rule should not be read?

MR. SPEAKER

They are in force from this moment, and the Clerk will read the new Rule.

The CLERK (Sir ERSKINE MAY)

then read the following Rule:— That when it shall appear to the Chairman, during any Debate, to be the general sense of the Committee, that the Question be now put, he may so inform the Committee; and on a Motion being made That the Question be now put,' the Chairman shall forthwith put such Question; and if the same be decided in the affirmative, by a majority of three to one, the Question previously under Debate shall be forthwith put from the Chair.

RULES Framed by Mr. SPEAKER for the Regulation of the BUSINESS of the HOUSE, while the State of PUBLIC BUSINESS is URGENT.

(Motions for Adjournment.)

1. That no Motion for the adjournment of the House shall be made, except by leave of the House, before the Orders of the Day or Notices of Motions have been entered upon.

2. That when a Motion is made for the adjournment of a Debate, or of the House, during any Debate, the Debate thereupon shall be strictly confined to the matter of such Motion.

3. That if, during any Debate, a Motion be made for the adjournment of the Debate, or of the House, Mr. Speaker may decline to put the Question thereupon, if, in his judgment, such Motion is made for the purpose of obstruction; or, if he think fit to put such Question, he may put it from the Chair forthwith.

4.That no Member, having spoken to a Motion for the adjournment of a Debate, or of the House, during any Debate, shall be entitled to move, or to speak to any similar Motion, during the same Debate.

(Irrelevance or Repetition.)

5.That Mr. Speaker may call the attention of the House to continued irrelevance or tedious repetition on the part of a Member; and may direct the Member to discontinue his speech.

(Putting the Question.)

6.That when it shall appear to Mr. Speaker, during any Debate, to be the general sense of the House, that the Question be now put, he may so inform the House; and on a Motion being made "That the Question be now put," Mr. Speaker shall forthwith put such Question; and if the same be decided in the affirmative by a majority of three to one, the Question previously under Debate shall be forthwith put from the Chair.

(House resolving itself into Committee.)

7.That when the Order of the Day for the Committee on any Bill or other matter (declaimed urgent) is read, Mr. Speaker shall forthwith leave the Chair, without putting any Question; and the House shall thereupon resolve itself into such Committee.

(Consideration of Bill, as amended.)

8.That, on reading the Order of the Day for the consideration of a Bill, (declared urgent) as amended, the House do proceed to consider the same without Question put.

(Divisions.)

9.That when, before a Division, Mr. Speaker's decision that the "Ayes" or "Noes" have it is challenged, Mr. Speaker may call upon the Members challenging it to rise in their places; and if they do not exceed twenty, he may forthwith declare the determination of the House.

RULES Regulating the PROCEEDINGS of a COMMITTEE of the WHOLE HOUSE upon any BILL or other MATTER declared URGENT.

(Motions to Report Progress, &c.)

10. That when a Motion is made, that the Chairman do report Progress, or do leave the Chair, the Debate shall be strictly confined to the matter of such Motion.

11. That if a Motion, that the Chair man do report Progress, or do leave the Chair, be made, the Chairman may decline to put the Question thereupon, if, in his judgment, such Motion is made for the purpose of obstruction; or, if he think fit to put such Question, he may put it from the Chair forthwith.

12. That no Member, having spoken to a Motion that the Chairman do report Progress, or do leave the Chair, shall be entitled to move, or to speak to, any similar Motion, during the same sitting of the Committee.

(Irrelevance or Repetition.)

13. That the Chairman may call the attention of the Committee to continued irrelevance, or tedious repetition, on the part of a Member; and may direct the Member to discontinue his speech.

(Putting the Question.)

14. That when it shall appear to the Chairman, during any Debate, to be the general sense of the Committee, that the Question be now put, he may so inform the Committee; and on a Motion being made "that the Question be now put," the Chairman shall forthwith put such Question; and if the same be decided in the affirmative, by a majority of three to one, the Question previously under Debate shall be forthwith put from the Chair.

(Members to speak once only.)

15. That no Member shall be allowed to speak more than once to the same Question; unless the Member in charge of the Bill, or any Member who has made a Motion, or moved an Amendment, desires to offer explanations.

(Preamble postponed.)

16.That the Preamble of a Bill do stand postponed until after the consideration of the Clauses, without Question put.

(Divisions.)

17. That when, before a Division, the Chairman's decision that the "Ayes" or "Noes "have it, is challenged, the Chairman may call upon the Members challenging it, to rise in their places, and if they do not exceed twenty, he may forthwith declare the determination of the Committee.

(Questions to be put forthwith.)

18. That, when, by any of the Rules, framed by Mr. Speaker, a Question is to be put from the Chair forthwith, no Amendment, Adjournment, or Debate shall be allowed.

(Proceedings in Committee, and on Consideration of Bill, as amended.)

19. That on a Motion being made, after Notice, by a Minister of the Crown, that in Committee upon any Bill, declared urgent, or upon the Consideration of any such Bill, as amended, the remaining Clauses of the Bill, and any Amendments and New Clauses then standing upon the Notice Paper shall, on and after a certain day and hour, be put forthwith; the Question thereupon shall be forthwith put from the Chair, but shall not be resolved in the affirmative, unless voted by a majority of Three to One.