§ Sir C. KINLOCH-COOKEI rise to ask your ruling, Sir, upon a point about which I have already spoken to you privately. Last week in Committee on the Copyright Bill, several of us had been speaking upon a Clause in which we were much interested. A few minutes before quarter to three o'clock, when we had left the Committee, a Member proposed that the sitting should be continued. This was extremely inconvenient, and many of us were unable to record our votes on the very matter we had been discussing. I should like to ask if that is in accordance with the regulations of the House governing Committees of this House.
§ Mr. SPEAKERThe matter is governed by Standing Order No. 47. Under that Standing Order it is open to the Member in charge of a Bill before any Standing Committee to move that the Committee go on sitting after the meeting of the House, but not after four o'clock. I do not know what is the practice of Chairmen of Standing Committees. I take it that if a Motion of that sort were moved at any time during the sitting of the Committee it could be put, and there could be no Amendment or Debate upon it, but a Division would be taken upon it at once. If the Committee desired to sit after four o'clock it would be necessary to obtain the sanction of the House.
§ Sir C. KINLOCH-COOKEMay I further ask you, then, if you will ask the Chairman of that Committee to obtain the opinion of the Committee with regard to sitting on later in good time before the adjournment?
§ Mr. SPEAKERThe Committee are not entitled to sit after the meeting of the House. The Standing Order says, "The said Committee shall not sit whilst the House is sitting, except in pursuance of a Resolution of the Committee, moved by the Minister in charge of the Bill before the Committee, and decided without Amendment or debate."
§ Colonel GRIFFITH-BOSCAWENOn a point of Order, Sir, as Chairman of the Standing Committee when the Motion was moved by the right hon. Gentleman opposite, the President of the Board of Trade, who was in charge of the Bill, I think such Motion can only be made by the Minister in charge of the Bill. It was made about twenty minutes to three, put Without debate, and agreed to without a Division. May I submit, therefore, that the procedure was perfectly in accordance with the Standing Orders?
§ Mr. SPEAKERThat seems to me perfectly correct. I was not raising any objection or taking any exception to what has occurred. I was only stating what I conceive to be the meaning of the Standing Order.