§ 2.35 p.m.
§
Order of the Day read for the consideration of the Commons Message of July 21
to acquaint this House that they have made the following Orders relative to the Bill:
That the Promoters of the Kent Water Bill shall have leave to suspend any further proceeding thereon in order to proceed with the same in the next Session of Parliament, provided that notice of their intention to do so be given in the Private Bill Office not later than Five o'clock on the day before the day on which the House adjourns for the Summer Adjournment and that all Fees due on the Bill up to that period be paid.
That not later than Five o'clock on the third day on which the House sits in the next Session of Parliament the Bill shall be presented to the House.
That there shall be deposited with the Bill a Declaration signed by the Agent for the Bill, stating that the Bill is the same, in every respect, as the Bill at the last stage of its proceeding in this House in the present Session.
That the Bill when laid upon the Table shall be deemed to have been read the first and second time; and shall be recorded in the Journal of the House as having been so read, and shall be ordered to be read the third time.
That no new Fees be charged in respect of any stage of the Bill upon which Fees have already been incurred during the present Session.
That the said Orders be Standing Orders of the House.
THE CHAIRMAN OF COMMITTEES (THE EARL OF DROGHEDA)My Lords, I beg to move that the Commons Message be now considered.
§ Moved, That the Commons Message be now considered.—(The Earl of Drogheda.)
§ On Question, Motion agreed to.
THE EARL OF DROGHEDAMy Lords, the effect of the Commons Message, which appears in the Minutes of yesterday's proceedings, in case your Lordships have not seen it, is that they have given 1330 the promoters of the Bill leave to suspend any further proceedings thereon so that they can proceed with the Bill in the next Session. The Motion that stands in my name on the Order Paper is to the same effect. I beg to move.
§ Moved, That the promoters of the Bill have leave to suspend any further proceedings thereon, in order to proceed with the Bill, if they shall think fit, in the next Session of Parliament, provided that notice of their intention to do so be lodged in the Office of the Clerk of the Parliaments not later than three o'clock on the day before the close of the present Session, and that all fees due thereon up to that period be paid;
§ That such Bill shall be deposited in the Office of the Clerk of the Parliaments not later than three o'clock on or before the third day on which the House shall sit after the commencement of the next Session of Parliament, with a declaration annexed thereto, signed by the agent, stating that the Bill is the same in every respect as the Bill at the last stage of the proceedings thereon in this House in the present Session;
§ That the proceedings on such Bill shall be pro formâ only in regard to every stage through which the same shall have passed in the present Session, and that no new fees be charged in regard to such stages;
§ That the Standing Orders by which the proceedings on Bills are regulated shall not apply to such Bill in regard to any of the stages through which the same shall have passed during the present Session.—(The Earl of Drogheda.)
§ VISCOUNT STANSGATEMy Lords, it is rather uncommon to carry on a Bill from one Session to another. May I ask the noble Earl, as a matter of interest, whether there is any precedent for this?
THE EARL OF DROGHEDAThere are many precedents. It is very unusual, but a great deal of work on the Bill has been done in Committee in another place, and a lot of expense would be caused if they had to start all over again.
§ VISCOUNT STANSGATEI am not complaining in any way; I was only asking for information.
§ On Question, Motion agreed to.
§ Ordered, That a Message be sent to the Commons to acquaint them with the above Resolution.