§ THE ACTING CHAIRMAN OF COMMITTEES (LORD STANMORE)My Lords, when what is known as a hybrid Bill—that is, a Public Bill affecting private rights—is introduced in the House of Commons, Standing Order 216 of that House provides that it shall be referred to the Examiners of Standing Orders, and in that House the same procedure applies in respect of such a Public Bill if introduced in the House of Lords. Owing to the non-existence of any House of Lords Standing Order to this effect, there has long been doubt whether in such cases the Examiners should similarly consider the 708 applicability of the Standing Orders of this House and report whether they have been complied with or not. Good examples during the last ten years are the two Post Office (Sites) Bills, both of which originated in the House of Commons. To both of these the Standing Orders which have to be complied with in this House were applicable; yet whereas in the case of the Bill of 1938 the Examiners reported to both Houses, in the case of the Bill of 1934 they reported to the House of Commons only. In these circumstances it seems desirable that a Standing Order should be made in this House on the same lines as Standing Order 216 of the House of Commons, and I therefore beg to move that the Standing Orders of this House be amended in the terms which I have placed on the Order Paper.
§ Moved, That the Standing Orders relative to Private Bills, etc., be amended as follows:
§ Page 46, line 20, after Standing Order 81, insert the following new Standing Order:
§ ("Where a Public Bill originating in the House of Commons has been referred to the Examiners, under Standing Order 216 of that House, the Examiners shall report to this House whether any of the Standing Orders of this House relative to Private Bills, etc., are applicable to the Bill, and, if applicable, whether or not they have been complied with.")—(Lord Stanmore.)
§ On Question, Motion agreed to. Standing Orders amended accordingly, and to be printed as amended.