HL Deb 06 April 1922 vol 50 cc122-3
LORD MUIR MACKENZIE

My Lords, I beg to make the Motion standing in my name. There are two things to which I should like to direct your Lordships' attention. The first is that the number of members proposed in the. Motion—namely, six—is unusual in the case of Joint Committees. There are usually five; but the particular subject is a very dry one, and I may tell your Lordships that I have found it difficult on many occasions to get a quorum. Therefore, I think it would be desirable to have an additional member, if your Lordships have no objection. The second matter is this. I have been informed by noble Lords from Scotland that, as the first Bill which is referred to the Committee is the Agricultural Holdings (Scotland) Bill, it would be desirable to have another noble Lord from Scotland on the Committee. Therefore, I propose that the Committee should consist of the Marquess of Linlithgow, Viscount Novar, Lord Gorell, Lord Parmoor, Lord Wrenbury and myself. I beg to move.

Moved, That a Committee of six Lords he appointed to join with a Committee of the House of Commons to consider all Consolidation Bills in the present session, and that the Lords following be named of the Committee—

—(Lord Muir Mackenzie.)

THE LORD SPEAKER

I understand that my noble friend moves the Committee as printed, but substitutes the name of the noble Marquess, Lord Linlithgow, for that of Lord Stuart of Wortley.

LORD MUIR MACKENZIE

In lieu of that noble Lord.

LORD SALTOUN

My Lords, I am very much obliged to the noble Lord for making the Motion in its present form. I pointed out to him how few Scottish members there were on the Committee, and that as the first Bill to come before them was a Scottish Bill and there were so few who knew about agriculture and the law, it was important that there should be another Scottish member appointed. I am very much obliged to the noble Lord for what he has done.

On Question, Motion agreed to. Ordered, That the Committee have power to agree with the Committee of the House of Commons in the appointment of a Chairman.