§ Mr. CrookshankI beg to move,
That—This Motion deals with Private Members' time. It is exactly on the same lines as that of last year, and follows the recommendations of the Select Committee of 1946—ten days for Bills and ten days for Motions. The book for the Ballot for Bills will be available on Tuesday and Wednesday, 1st and 2nd November, and the first Ballot for Motions will be on 2nd November for Friday, 18th November. I shall be only too happy to try to answer any questions which any hon. Member likes to ask but I think the Motion is perfectly clear.
- (1) save as provided in paragraphs (2) and (5) of this Order, Government Business shall have precedence at every sitting for the remainder of the Session;
- (2) Public Bills, other than Government Bills shall have precedence over Government Business on the following Fridays, namely, 25th November, 9th December, 3rd and 17th February, 2nd and 16th March, 13th and 27th April, 11th May and 15th June;
- (3) on and after Friday 13th April, Public Bills other than Government Bills shall be arranged on the Order Paper in the following order:—Consideration of Lords Amendments, Third Readings, Considerations of Reports not already entered upon, adjourned Proceedings on Consideration, Bills in progress in Committee. Bills appointed for Committee and Second Readings;
- (4) the ballot for unofficial Members' Bills shall be held on Thursday 3rd November, under arrangements to be made by Mr. Speaker, and the Bills shall be presented at the commencement of Public Business on Wednesday 9th November;
- (5) unofficial Members' Notices of Motions and unofficial Members' Bills shall have precedence in that order over Government Business on the following Fridays, namely, 18th November, 2nd and 16th December, 10th and 24th February, 9th and 23rd March, 20th April, 4th May and 8th June; and no Notices of Motions shall be handed in for any of these Fridays in anticipation of the ballots under paragraph (6) of this Order;
- (6) ballots for precedence of unofficial Members' Notices of Motions shall be held after Questions on the following Wednesdays, namely, 2nd, 16th and 30th November, 1st, 8th and 22nd February, 7th March, 11th and 18th April and 16th May.
- (7) until after Wednesday 9th November, no unofficial Member shall give notice of Motion for leave to bring in a Bill under Standing Order No. 12 (Motions for leave to bring in Bills and nomination of Select Committees at commencement of Public Business) or for presenting a Bill under Standing Order No. 35 (Presentation or introduction and first reading).