§ 26.—(1) After a Question has been proposed a Member rising in his place may claim to move, "That the Question be now put," and, unless it shall appear to the Chair that such Motion is an abuse of the Rules of the House, or an infringement of the rights of the minority, the Question, "That the Question be now put," shall be put forthwith, and decided without Amendment or Debate.
§ (2) When the Motion "That the Question be now put" has been carried, and the Question consequent thereon has been decided, any further Motion may be made (the assent of the Chair, as aforesaid, not having been withheld) which may be requisite to bring to a decision any Question already proposed from the Chair; and also if a clause be then under consideration, a Motion may be made (the assent of of the Chair, as aforesaid, not having been withheld), that the Question, that certain words of the clause defined in the Motion stand part of the clause, or that the clause stand part of, or be added to, the Bill, be now put. Such Motions shall be put forthwith, and decided without Amendment or Debate.
§ (3) A Motion may be made (the assent of the Chair, as aforesaid, not having been withheld) that, with respect to certain words in a Motion, clause; or schedule under Debate defined in the Motion, the Chair be empowered to select the Amendments to be proposed. Such a Motion shall be put forthwith and decided without Amendment or Debate. If the Motion is carried the Chair shall then and thereafter exercise the power of selecting the Amendments to be proposed on the words so defined. The Chair may, if the Chair thinks fit, ask any Member who has given notice of an Amendment to give such explanation of the object of the Amendment as may enable the Chair to form a judgment upon it. Provided that the power of selection shall not be exercised by the Chairman of a Standing Committee.
1319§ (4) Provided always that this Rule shall be put in force only when the Speaker the Chairman of Ways and Means or Deputy-chairman is in the chair.
§ Majority for Closure.
§ 27. Questions for the Closure of Debate or selection of Amendments under Standing Order "Closure of Debate" shall be decided in the affirmative, if, when a Division be taken, it appears by the numbers declared from the Chair, that not less than one hundred Members voted in the majority in support of the Motion.
§ Deputy-Speaker and Deputy-Chairman.
§ 81.—(1) Whenever the House shall be informed by the Clerk at the Table of the unavoidable absence of Mr. Speaker, the Chairman of the Committee of Ways and Means shall perform the duties and exercise the authority of Speaker in relation to all Proceedings of this House, as Deputy-Speaker, until the next meeting of the House, and so on from day to day, on the like information being given to the House, until the House shall otherwise order: provided that if the House shall adjourn for more than 24 hours the Deputy-Speaker shall continue to perform the duties and exercise the authority of Speaker for 24 hours only after such adjournment.
§ (2) At the commencement of every Parliament, or from time to time, as necessity may arise, the House may appoint a Deputy-Chairman, who shall, whenever the Chairman of Ways and Means is absent from the Chair, be entitled to exercise all the powers vested in the Chairman of Ways and Means, including his powers as Deputy-Speaker.
§ And, it being after Half-past Eleven of the clock on Wednesday evening, Mr. Speaker adjourned the House without Question put, in pursuance of the Standing Order.
§ Adjourned at Twenty minutes before One o'clock.