HL Deb 13 June 1856 vol 142 cc1400-1

LORD REDESDALE rose, pursuant to notice, to move— That a Committee of Five Lords, with the Chairman of Committees, be appointed, to whom the Chairman may refer any Provision in a Private Bill during the present Session, either before or after the Report of such Bill, on which he may think it desirable that the House should have a Report from such Committee before the passing of the Bill: Three to be a Quorum. The object of the Resolution was to give such assistance to the chairman of Committees as would enable him to examine private Bills before they passed into law, and introduce some uniform system. Many abuses now prevailed; one was the system of getting up a fictitious opposition to a Bill, and so removing it from the charge of the Chairman of the Committees; the opposition was then withdrawn, and the most important clauses never came under the consideration of the Select Committee to which it was referred.

THE EARL OF CLANCARTY

asked whether the new Committee would consider the general merits of a Bill?

LORD REDESDALE

replied that they would only consider such provisions as would not come before the ordinary Committee.

Resolution agreed to.

The Lords following were named of the Committee:—The Duke of SOMERSET; the Earl of STRADBROKE; the Lord COLCHESTER; the Lord PORTMAN; the Lord STANLEY of ALDERLEY.

House adjourned to Monday next.