§ Order of the Day for the consideration of the Report by the Select Committee read.
§
The Committee reported as follows:
That the Committee have met and carefully considered the question of the cost of Private Bills, and have come to the conclusion that no useful purpose would be served in further considering the matter during the war emergency.
They recommend that the Committee should be reconstituted after the cessation of hostilities, with instructions to consider the whole matter in the light of such developments as may have taken place in the interval.
THE CHAIRMAN OF COMMITTEES (THE EARL OF ONSLOW)My Lords, you will remember that about three years ago this matter was touched upon by my noble and learned friend Lord Sankey, and it seemed to me it might be desirable to look into the question again. It was examined carefully in the time of my noble friend Lord Donoughmore just after the last war, and a Report was made to your Lordships' House. It has also been examined in another place. The Committee 978 have had several meetings, and the results are as stated in the Report now before your Lordships' House. I need not say very much on the subject or go into it in any way, but we came to the conclusion that at the present time there was nothing to be done to further the reduction of costs on Private Bills. The matter should, we consider, be left open, and after the war should be re-examined. I beg to move, That the Report be now considered and agreed to.
§ Moved, That the Report be now considered and agreed to.—(The Earl of Onslow.)
§ On Question, Motion agreed to.