THE CHAIRMAN OF COMMITTEES (The Earl of ONSLOW)My Lords, it has been the practice to confine the Committee of Selection to four Peers besides the Chairman of Committees. I have often felt that that is rather a small number, and that it would be 518 desirable to add to the Committee a certain number of Peers who are accustomed to work on Private Bill Committees and also the Leaders on both sides of the House, for I think it is very desirable that they should be made acquainted with the services which noble Lords render upon Select Committees, as to which now I think a great deal of ignorance prevails. I therefore ask your Lordships to amend the Standing Orders, and in due course I shall move to add a certain number of noble Lords to the Committee of Selection. I beg to move that the Motion standing in my name be agreed to.
Moved, that the Standing Orders be amended as follows: 97. The Chairman of Committees and such other Lords as shall be named by the House shall be appointed a Committe to select and propose to the House the names of the five Lords to form a Select Committee for the consideration of each opposed Local Bill or Provisional Order Confirmation Bill, and shall appoint the Chair man of such Committee, and shall name the Bill or Bills which shall be taken into consideration on the first or any later day of meeting of such Committee. If a vacancy occur in any such Select Committee in the interval between any two sittings of the House, the Chairman of Committees may appoint a Lord to fill such vacancy, and in such case shall report the same to the House at the next sitting—(The Earl of Onslow.)
§ On Question, Motion agreed to. Standing Order amended accordingly to be printed as amended (No. 34.)