THE CHAIRMAN OF COMMITTEES (The Earl of MORLEY)My Lords, I beg to move the Amendments to the Standing Orders which appear in my name on the Paper. I do not think they will require much explanation. The first Amendment relates to Standing Order 914 No. 22, which refers to the consents given by local authorities in the case of Tramway Bills before they are allowed to be introduced into Parliament. It has been found that there is a good deal of delay in giving these consents, and that in consequence Bills are late in coming before Committees. The object of the Amendment is to provide that these consents must be given before the 18th day of January, on which day the Examiners begin to perform their duties. The second Amendment relates to the deposit of Bills at the Treasury and other public Departments. At the request of the Board of Education I have introduced certain Amendments to give effect to their wishes with regard to Bills that are deposited with that Board. The third Amendment relates to Orders in pursuance of the Private Legislation Procedure (Scotland) Act, 1889. As the House are aware, Scottish Orders, if the Chairman of the Committees of this House and the other House think fit, are proceeded with as Bills. Under the Scottish Act Orders maybe presented, not merely in December, which is the usual time, but also in the month of April. In the case of Orders presented in the latter month and turned into Bills it is almost impossible, unless they are unopposed, that they can pass into law during the current session. The object of this Amendment is to save the promoters the expense of issuing fresh notices, and to provide that the notices given in April shall hold good in respect of the Bills to be introduced in the following session. I think these are the only explanations necessary with regard to the Amendments. I have put down other Amendments with regard to the housing of the working classes, but I do not think the House has had time to properly consider a question of such importance, and I have therefore postponed these Amendments till a later period.
§ On Question, Amendments agreed to.