§ Mr. KeelingI beg leave to ask a question of which I have given you notice, Mr. Speaker. A week ago the National Parks Bill was delivered to hon. Members, and two days ago another copy was delivered with an endorsement that it was to be substituted for the Bill which had been previously delivered. There was no indication of how the two Bills differed, and it took quite a long time to discover that the only alteration was the substitution of italics for Roman type in a proviso on page 54. May I ask this question—whether you, Mr. Speaker, will consider the suggestion, which I am sure would be for the convenience of hon. Members, that when a revised version of a Bill has to be issued, a slip should be attached showing exactly how the revised version differs from the first version?
§ Mr. SpeakerI am asked whether, in future cases, when a revised version of a Bill has to be issued, a slip can be attached to the new version showing exactly how the revised version differs from the original. Mistakes occur in Bills from time to time, and in minor cases I call the attention of the House to it before Second Reading. The House will recall that I did this recently in the case of the Housing Bill. In more serious cases, it is necessary to re-issue the Bill. This has happened now and then in the past, but it has not been the practice to indicate what are the changes in the new version, as the hon. Member has pointed out. However, if it is for the convenience of hon. Members—and I think it will be —I see no technical objection to the hon. Member's proposal, and I shall issue instructions that, in future cases, a slip is to be attached to the Bill showing how it differs from the previous version.
§ Mr. KeelingThank you very much, Mr. Speaker.