HC Deb 04 February 1902 vol 102 cc374-5
MR. RENSHAW (Renfrewshire)

I beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury whether, in view of the proposed New Rules of Procedure in regard to public business, he will appoint a Select Committee to consider and report what changes it is desirable to make in Standing Orders for Private Business in order to facilitate the earlier introduction and progress of Private Bills; and also whether he will consider the desirability of appointing a joint Committee of the two Houses to consider and report on the whole question of Private Bill Legislation, and the fees charged in respect of Private Bills.

MR. A. J. BALFOUR

The hon. Member suggests the appointment of two Committees, more or less running concurrently, on the subject of Private Bill Legislation. I quite understand the objects of my hon. friend, and I sympathise with those objects. I cannot help thinking that they would be better attained if, in the first instance, this House consented, and the other House consented, to a joint Committee to discuss Private Bill Legislation, and if that inquiry promised to be of so prolonged a character as to prevent our making the necessary arrangements to adapt Private Bill Legislation to the new rules, if the new rules are passed, then perhaps the course suggested by my hon. friend might with advantage be adopted.

MR. RENSHAW

When will the Committee be appointed?

MR. A. J. BALFOUR

I indicated in my speech in introducing the new rules that in my judgment it would be desirable to have a Committee to inquire into the Private Bill Legislation of this House. If the view I expressed is shared by this House and by the other House, then I think the sooner such a Committee is at work the better.

MR. DILLON

I beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury whether he will cause to be prepared and circulated full information as to rules in force in foreign legislatures for the punishment of members guilty of offences against order.

MR. A. J. BALFOUR

I have telegraphed for information on this subject, but I do not know how soon it will reach me.