§ Commons' Amendments considered (according to Order).
§ THE LORD CHANCELLOR moved, that the said Amendments be agreed to.
§ LORD PORTMANbegged to remind their Lordships of a Standing Order passed in 1707, by which the Lord Chancellor was obliged to explain to the House any Amendments made by the Commons in Bills sent down by their Lordships, and was glad that the noble and learned Lord on the woolsack generally observed that rule. It was, however, quite impossible that the Lord Chancellor could find time to discharge this necessary and important duty, and he would, therefore, suggest to the Government the propriety of transferring it to some one else. He would, therefore, give notice of his intention, next Session, to move that no Amendments should be proposed on the third reading of a public Bill, unless such Amendments had been printed.
THE LORD CHANCELLORsaid, the noble Lord seemed to be unaware that he had already announced, on the part of the Government, their intention to propose, in the next Session of Parliament, the appointment of an officer connected with both Houses of Parliament, whose duty it would be to supervise the legislation of public Bills, and who would therefore take cognisance of the Amendments made by either House on the Bills passed by the other.
§ Agreed to.