HC Deb 16 July 1971 vol 821 cc923-4

That—

  1. (1) any complaint of a breach of the privileges or of a contempt of this House shall be addressed in the first place to the Committee of Privileges who shall report to the House whether or not the complaint ought to have precedence of the notices of motions and orders of the day. having regard to the Resolutions of this House concerning the 924 circumstances in which the jurisdiction of the House in matters of privilege should be exercised ;
  2. (2) no complaint shall have such precedence unless the Commitee shall have reported that it ought to have precedence : provided that a complaint of a matter requiring the immediate attention of the House may have precedence if Mr. Speaker after notice given to him so decides ;
  3. (3) on a motion being made for the consideration of a report from the Committee of Privileges, whenever the Committee shall have reported that a complaint ought to have precedence, the question thereon shall be put forthwith, and, on consideration of the said report, Mr. Speaker shall call upon the Member who has made the complaint to make a brief explanatory statement and if thereafter a motion is made, that the matter of the complaint be referred to the Committee of Privileges. Mr. Speaker, after permitting a brief statement from the Member who makes and from a Member who opposes any such motion respectively shall put the question thereon forthwith.
That this Order be a Standing Order of the House.

I propose to call in due course the following Amendments :

The Amendment in relation to Motion No. 4, in line 5, after 'functions', insert : 'and for the reasonable protection of its Members, Officers and others as aforesaid from any form of improper obstruction, attempt at or threat of obstruction likely to cause substantial interference with the performance of their respective functions'. The following Amendments in relation to Motion No. 6 :

In line 2, after 'power', insert 'if they so order'.

In line 3, leave out 'unless they otherwise order'.

Leave out line 5.

The following Amendments in relation to Motion No. 9 :

In line 2, after 'shall', insert : 'as promptly as is reasonably practicable'. In line 11, after 'him', insert 'or of his own motion'.