HL Deb 29 May 1865 vol 179 cc957-9
THE DUKE OF RICHMOND

rose to call the attention of the House to the Manner in which Divisions are taken, with a view to some Standing Order being passed to regulate the same. On a recent occasion considerable confusion had arisen in con- sequence of the manner in which the Question was put. The noble and learned Lord on the Woolsack put the Question as he was in the habit of doing; but there did not appear to be any distinct rule for the guidance of the House as to what interval should elapse between the putting of the Question and the Division actually taking place. Under these circumstances he thought some Standing Order should be passed to regulate the proceeding. The occasion to which he had referred, though of some importance, was not a very exciting one; but there were occasions when a division might involve the change of a Government, and when noble Lords, either anticipating the loss of office or accession to office, might not regard the matter with indifference. It would, therefore, be well to agree to some Standing Order while no excitement existed. He proposed that the following Standing Order be agreed to:— That when, on the Question being put, a Division is called for, the noble Lord on the Woolsack, or in the Chair of Committees, shall order the House to be cleared. As soon as the House shall be cleared, the noble Lord on the Woolsack, or in the Chair, shall again put the question before the division takes place, and an interval of two minutes shall be suffered to elapse between the order of clearing the House and closing the doors. That, he believed, was the practice which prevailed in the other House, and he believed it had been found entirely satisfactory. He moved that the words he had read should be adopted and become a Standing Order.

EARL GRANVILLE

said, he did not object to the proposition, but he would suggest that the proposed Standing Order should be printed, that it might be seen by all their Lordships; and the noble Duke might afterwards move its adoption by the House.

LORD REDESDALE

was understood to approve the proposed Standing Order.

EARL STANHOPE

said, he was very glad the noble Duke had directed his attention to this subject. He thought it important that a Peer who had gone into the Library, perhaps, to consult a book on the subject of the debate should not be excluded from taking part in the division. The noble and learned Lord whose duty it was to put the Question should also be relieved in a moment of political excitement from all responsibility and the possibility of blame as to the time of taking a division. This could at once be secured by the interval of two minutes being suffered to elapse between the time of clearing the House and closing the doors. His noble Friend (Viscount Eversley), who had presided in the other House with so much credit as Speaker, could bear witness how well a similar system had worked in the other House of Parliament.

LORD EBURY

said, he hoped when this subject was considered, that an effort would be made to define what was the House and what was not the House. On the occasion which had been alluded to a noble Lord sat in a particular portion of what he should have called the House; but it was said he was not in the House, and his vote was refused.

THE MARQUESS OF BATH

said, he believed the practice to be, although no formal Resolution had been adopted to that effect, that every Peer who could hear the Question put was to be considered in the House.

THE DUKE OF RICHMOND

said, he would consider the subject fully and consult the Chairman of Committees and the Clerk of the Parliaments in regard to this Standing Order. He would have it printed, and bring it forward again immediately after the Whitsuntide holydays.