HC Deb 30 October 1980 vol 991 cc837-8

Motion made, and Question proposed,

That— (1) There shall be one or more standing committees, to be called standing committees on European Community documents, for the consideration of European Community documents (as defined in Standing Order No. 3 (Exempted business) referred to them. (2) Any Member, not being a member of such a standing committee, may take part in the deliberations of the committee, but shall not vote or be counted in the quorum. (3) Where notice has been given of a motion relating to a European Community document, a motion may be made by a Minister of the Crown at the commencement of public business, that the said document be referred to such a committee, and the question thereupon shall be put forthwith; and if, on the question being put, not less than twenty Members rise in their places and signify their objections thereto, Mr. Speaker shall declare that the noes have it. (4) Each committee shall consider each such document referred to it on a motion made by a Minister of the Crown to which amendments may be moved, and the chairman shall interrupt proceedings, if not previously concluded, when the committee shall have sat for two and a half hours after the commencement of those proceedings. Thereafter, notwithstanding the provisions of Standing Order No. 64 (2) (Meetings of Standing Committees), he shall forthwith put successively—

  1. (a) the question on any amendment already proposed from the Chair;
  2. (b) the question on any other amendments selected by the Chair which may be moved;
  3. (c) the main question (or the main question, as amended).
The committee shall thereupon report the document to the House, together with any resolution to which they have come, without any further question being put. (5) If any motion is made in the House in relation to any document reported to the House in accordance with paragraph (4) of this order, Mr. Speaker shall forthwith put successively—
  1. (a) the question on any amendment selected by him which may be moved;
  2. (b) the main question (or the main question, as amended);
and proceedings in pursuance of this paragraph, though opposed, may be decided after the expiration of the time for opposed business.

That this be a Standing Order of the House.— [Mr. St. John-Stevas.]

Mr. Deputy Speaker (Mr. Bryant God-man Irvine)

Does the right hon. Member for Battersea, North (Mr. Jay) wish to move his amendment?

Mr. Jay

No, Sir.

Question put and agreed to.