HC Deb 14 April 1981 vol 3 cc133-4
The Chairman of Ways and Means (Mr. Bernard Weatherill)

In moving the amendments to Standing Orders, I am happy to be able to reassure the House that they are not as formidable as they look. They are all of a technical or drafting nature. The amendments to Standing Orders 156B, 220 and 221 are consequential on changes in the law made by the Local Government, Planning and Land Act 1980. The amendments do no more than preserve the status quo. The other amendments to Standing Orders 39, 174 and 231 are intended to clarify or to bring up to date those orders.

Mr. Speaker

In order to save the time of the House, I shall put the six motions together.

Ordered, That Standing Order 39 (Deposit of copies of bills at Treasury and other public departments, etc.) be amended as follows: Line 16, leave out 'Somerset House'. That Standing Order 156B (Clause to be inserted in Bills authorising expenditure affecting grants under enactments relating to local government) be amended as follows: Line 9, leave out from 'for' to end of line 12 and insert. 'the purpose of determining the aggregate amount of rate support grants under the enactments relating to local government in England and Wales or in Scotland, as the case may be'. That Standing Order 174 (Time and manner of taking private business) be amended as follows: Line 15, after 'motion', insert '(other than a notice of motion in the name of the Chairman of Ways and Means)'. Line 29, leave out from 'down' to end of line 32 and insert 'shall be distributed as nearly as may be proportionately between days allotted to the business of supply and other days on which government business has precedence'. That Standing Order 220 (Greater London Council (Money) Bills) be amended as follows: Line 2, leave out '29' and insert '29A'. Line 5, leave out from 'to' to end of line 6 and insert 'borrowing and lending by the Council and prescribed expenditure of the Council'. Line 70, at end add: '(3) In this Order and Standing Order 221 (Limitation of power of committees on Greater London Council (Money) Bills) references to prescribed expenditure of the Council are to be construed in accordance with paragraphs 25A, 25B and 29A of Schedule 2 to the London Government Act 1963'. That Standing Order 221 (Limitation of powers of committees on Greater London Council (Money) Bills) be amended as follows: Line 4, leave out from beginning to 'for' in line 5 and insert 'the London Transport Executive or any of their wholly-owned subsidiaries any power involving prescribed expenditure of the Council'. That Standing Order 231 (Presentation of petition for Bill under section 1(4) of the Procedure Act) be amended as follows: Line 2, leave out from 'which' to end of line 3 and insert 'a representation under section 1(4) of the Procedure Act would be required'.—[The Chairman of Ways and Means.]

Ordered, That the said amendments be printed.