§ THE CHAIRMAN of WAYS and MEANS (Mr. Whitley)I think it will be convenient if I explain the nature of the changes which I propose in our Standing Orders. The first two, which I now move, arise out of changes which have taken place in local government, and they are with the object of saving expense to promoters of Bills by leaving out the unnecessary reference in the deposit of plans to "parishes, townlands, and extra parochial places" which have now become obsolete.
Standing Order 4 read, and amended, in line 6, by leaving out the words "parishes, townlands, and extra parochial places, "and inserting the words" boroughs, urban and rural districts, and in the case of rural districts the parishes" instead thereof; and, in line 24, at the end, by adding the words "The provisions of this Order relating to boroughs shall apply in the case of London to Metropolitan boroughs and the City of London."
§ Mr. WHITLEYThe New Standing Order—(Endorsement by Chairman of Ways and Means in the case of certain Petitions)—which I now move will take its place as Standing Order 198a. It deals with Petitions for leave to bring in late Private Bills and Petitions for Additional Provisions. I propose this in order that the Chairman of Ways and Means may be able efficiently to carry out the duty which the House places on him of supervision over the whole of our Private Bill work. Unless proposals for late Bills come before the Chairman it is not possible for him to have that control which the House wishes. This of course does not apply to Bills which are brought in the ordinary way, but only to Bills and provisions for which special facilities are asked.
§ Sir W. PEARCEMay I ask if this means doing away with the necessity of going before the Standing Orders Committee.
§ Mr. WHITLEYNot at all. The proposal, as is always the case if the Standing Orders have not been complied with, will have to go afterwards before the Standing Orders Committee.
§ Captain O'GRADYWill the Standing Orders Committee still have the right, although the Standing Orders have not been observed, to admit the Bill?
§ Mr. WHITLEYCertainly. This proposal does not derogate in any way whatsoever from the existing powers of the Standing Orders Committee.
New Standing Order 198aagreed to.
Ordered (Endorsement by Chairman of Ways and Means in the case of Certain Petitions), That,—
Every Petition for leave to deposit a Petition for a Private Bill and every Petition for a Private Bill which has not been deposited in accordance with the provisions of Standing Order 32 and Standing Older 194b, and every Petition for an additional Provision, shall require the endorsement of the Chairman of the Committee of Ways and Means before it is deposited in the Committee Office.Ordered, That this Order be a Standing Order of this House.
§ Mr. WHITLEYI do not propose to move the Amendment to Standing Order 205, of which I had given notice. It was suggested as a matter of economy to promoters, but I find that the object can be secured by means of instructions to the Private Bill Office.
Standing Orders 33, 34, and 34a refer to the date on which copies of Bills must be deposited in the various Government Offices. My Amendments give three days longer to the promoters and bring the practice of this House into line with that of the House of Lords. At present it is found that the 18th is rather too short a time for promoters, and it is for the convenience of all parties to have the practice uniform in the two Houses.
Standing Order 33 read, and amended, in line I, by leaving out "18th," and inserting "21st" instead thereof.
Standing Order 34 read, and amended, in line I, by leaving out"18th," and inserting "21st" instead thereof.
209 Standing Order 34aread and amended, in line I, by leaving out "18th," and inserting "21st" instead thereof.