§ Standing Order 31, line 8, leave out (Navy Department)'.
§ Standing Order 39, line 3, after 'Security', insert ' and at the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications '.
§ Standing Order 39, line 6, leave out 'the General Post Office'.
§ Standing Order 39, line 11, leave out 'the Ministry of Power'.
§ Standing Order 39, line 15, leave out subsection (2).
§ Standing Order 75, line 15, 'after although', insert neither '.
§ Standing Order 75, line 17, leave out 'or' and insert nor
§ Standing Order 75, line 17, leave out 'not'.
§ Standing Order 192A, leave out lines 4 to 6 and insert:
§ Provided that
- (a) a petition may be prepared otherwise than in writing by hand; and
- (b) except in the case of a petition for a Private Bill or a petition for additional provision in a Private Bill, a petition may be signed on behalf of the petitioner by his agent.
§ (2) A petition signed by the petitioner's agent shall, when so deposited, be accompanied by a written authority of the petitioner or petitioners authorising the agent to sign the petition on his or their behalf.
§ Standing Order 244, line 10, leave out 'presenting the counter-petition' and insert 'by whom or on whose behalf the counter-petition is presented'.
§ Standing Order 244, line 25, after 'signed', insert 'or whose agent signed'.
§ The Amendment to Standing Order 192A makes it possible for Petitions against Bills to be signed by the Parliamentary Agent concerned on behalf of his client. This follows representations made to me that it is sometimes difficult for such Petitions to be formally signed and sealed within the strict limits laid down by the existing Standing Order. I have carefully considered this matter, and I now commend to the House this Amendment, which includes provision for an important safeguard against abuse of this relaxation of the rules.
§ The other Amendments are of a drafting or routine character.
§ Question put and agreed to.