HC Deb 15 February 1960 vol 617 cc927-8

Standing Order 243, leave out lines 1 to 11 and insert— (1) Where under section 4 of the Special Procedure Act any special procedure petition stands referred, or has been referred by order of either House, to a joint committee, the committee of this House shall consist of three members to be nominated by the Committee of Selection and the order of proceedings shall be as follows—

  1. (a) the minister shall, if required by the committee, briefly explain the order by means of a factual statement, to be agreed with the petitioner and counter-petitioner if any;
  2. (b) the petitioner shall be entitled to be heard in support of the petition;
  3. (c) if the committee are of opinion that he has a case to answer, the minister shall be entitled to be heard against the petition;
  4. (d) the petitioner shall be entitled
    1. (i) to reply, or
    2. (ii) before replying, to call rebutting evidence, with the leave of the committee, on which the minister shall be entitled to comment;
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  5. (e) the petitioner and the minister may appear by counsel or agent.
Line 13, after "rights", insert "and functions". Line 14, leave out "sub-paragraph (c)" and insert "sub-paragraphs (a) (c) (d) and (e)". Line 30, at end add— (3) The minutes of the evidence taken before the committee shall be reported to the House". Standing Order 244, line 52, at end, add "either before or after the minister or applicant has been heard as the committee may direct".

These Amendments relate to the procedure in Joint Committees on Orders under the Statutory Orders (Special Procedure) Act, 1945, and set out the order of proceeding in the Committee.

Question put and agreed to.