HC Deb 23 June 1927 vol 207 cc2190-1

Ordered, "That so much of the Lords Message [22nd June] relating to the appointment of a Joint Committee on the Ouse Drainage Bill be now considered." —[Colonel Gibbs.]

So much of the Lords Message considered accordingly.

Ordered, "That a Select Committee of Five Members be appointed to join with a Committee appointed by the Lords to consider the Bill."

Motion made, and Question proposed, "That Captain Crookshank, Mr. Campbell, Colonel Heneage, Sir Murdoch Macdonald, and Mr Riley be nominated Members of the Committee."—[Colonel Gibbs.]

Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHY

On the question of the names, I should like to ask why only one of my hon. Friends on this side is nominated a member of the Committee. Is it not possible to have two? It means that if that one hon. Member is away, there will be no representative present from this side. It seems a reasonable request that there should be two representatives.

The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the TREASURY (Commander Eyres Monsell)

These names are nominated by the Chief Whips of the various parties.

Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHY

I am not objecting to the names.

Commander EYRES MONSELL

The proportion is in accordance with the usual practice.

Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHY

It seems a weakness that there should be only one member of a party on a Committee dealing with a Bill with such important interests. I suggest that in future, perhaps not on this occasion, we ought to have more members, say, six members of the party opposite, two from our party and two from the party below the gangway on this side.

Commander EYRES MONSELL

Perhaps the proportion can be made up by nominations from the other place.

Ordered, "That all Petitions against the Bill presented on or before Tuesday, 5th July, be referred to the Committee. That the Petitioners praying to be heard by themselves their Counsel, Agents or Witnesses be heard against the Bill, and Counsel heard in support of the Bill."

Ordered, "That the Committee have power to send for persons, papers, and records."

Ordered, "That Three be the quorum."—[Colonel Gibbs.]

The remaining Orders were read, and postponed.