HC Deb 20 July 1915 vol 73 cc1307-9

Divorce Bills (Counsel and Witnesses).

The CHAIRMAN of WAYS and MEANS (Mr. Whitley)

It is usual in the month of July to carry out a revision of the Standing Orders relating to Private Business. That has been done this year. The Amendments I have to propose are of a small character, and none of them involves any matter which raises new principles. I hope the House will accept that assurance and agree to the Amendments.

I beg to move, after Standing Order 189, to insert, 189a. The Select Committee on Divorce Bills shall hear counsel and examine witnesses for all Bills committed to them; and also shall hear counsel and examine witnesses against such Bills if the parties concerned think fit to be heard by counsel and produce witnesses.

Mr. KING

I wish to point out that the words in the new Standing Order are not exactly the same as those that are usually passed when the House Orders an instruction to the Divorce Bills Committee. The word in the Resolution is that the Committee "do" hear counsel. In the new Standing Order the word "shall," which I suppose is mandatory, is introduced. It is not always the practice of the Divorce Bills Committee to hear counsel, but I am afraid that, with the word "shall" in the Standing Order, we shall be obliged to do so. I am not quite sure that it is advisable or desirable to proceed on these lines.

The CHAIRMAN of WAYS and MEANS

This proposal has been before the chairman of the Joint Committee on Divorce Bills, and he raises no objection to it. There is no difference in effect between the words "do" and "shall." The word "shall" is the more proper in a Standing Order, although in Motions we use the word "do."

Question put, and agreed to.

189a. Ordered, That the Select Committee on Divorce Bills shall hear counsel and examine witnesses for all Bills committed to them; and also shall hear counsel and examine witnesses against such Bills if the parties concerned think fit to be heard by counsel and produce witnesses.

Ordered, That this Order be a Standing Order of this House.

Standing Order 196 read, and amended, by adding the words,—

"And if the House is not sitting on the latest day on which the Bill ought to be laid upon the Table of the House, then the Bill shall be so laid on the first day on which the House again sits."

Standing Order 224a read, and amended, in line 11, by inserting, after the word "extended," the words "in respect of (a) and (b)."

And in line 12, by inserting, after the word "adjournment," the words "in respect of (c) to the second day upon which the House sits after the adjournment."

Standing Order 225 read, and amended, in line 4, by leaving out the words from the first word "List," to the end of line 5.

And in line 14, by leaving out the words "5. First Reading."

Standing Order 238 read, and amended, in line 2, by leaving out the words "Committee clerk to the."

And in line 2, by inserting, after the third word "the," the words "Committee and."

Standing Order 248 read, and amended, in line 1, by inserting, after the second word "the," the words "Committee and."

And in line 1, by inserting, after the word "Office," the words "and the clerk to the Examiner, as the case may be."—[The Chairman of Ways and Means.]

Private Bills,

Ordered, That Standing Orders 220 and 246, relating to Private Bills, be suspended for the remainder of the Session.

Ordered, That, as regards Private Bills to be returned by the House of Lords with Amendments, such Amendments (if unopposed) shall be considered forthwith.

Ordered, That, as regards Private Bills returned, or to be returned, by the House of Lords with Amendments, such Amendments (if opposed) shall be considered at such time as the Chairman of Ways and Means may determine.

Ordered, That, when it is intended to propose any Amendments thereto, a copy of such Amendments shall be deposited in the Committee and Private Bill Office, and notice given on the day on which the Bill shall have been returned from the House of Lords.—[The Chairman of Ways and Means.]

Dunfermline and District Tramways (Extensions) Order Confirmation Bill [Lords,]

Considered; to be read the third time To-morrow.