§ VISCOUNT STANSGATEMy Lords, I should like to ask the noble Earl the Leader of the House whether, in connection with the Motion that he has on the Order Paper for Monday, seeking approval of the proposed new Standing Order, he thinks that it would be possible to apply Standing Order No. 55 to the debate. That Standing Order is intended to facilitate debate and to assist generally the proceedings of the House.
THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR COMMONWEALTH RELATIONS (THE EARL OF HOME)My Lords, I am obliged to the noble Viscount for giving me this opportunity of saying how I suggest we should deal with this particular piece of Business. Like the noble viscount, I have been anxious to ensure that we avoid confusion and secure an orderly debate. I think, as he does, that it would be an advantage if we were to consider in Committee the Amendments tabled—I take it that that really is his suggestion. Therefore, after consultation with the learned Clerk of the Parliaments, I would suggest to your Lordships that as soon as the Business is called on Monday I should move the House into Committee. We shall then discuss the various Amendments proposed to the Order on the Paper, in the same way as we discuss Amendments tabled to a Bill. After the Committee has dealt with the Amendments the House will then resume, and the Standing Order will be before the House as it bas emerged from the Committee stage, on my own Motion that the House should approve the Order. I hope that that course will be convenient to the noble Viscount the Leader of the Opposition, and to the noble Lord. Lord Rea.
May I further add that, in order to meet the convenience of noble and learned Lords who are engaged judicially on an important Scottish appeal case that afternoon, some of whom wish to take part in the debate, we propose to take the Standing Order at 4.15 p.m. on Monday afternoon. If the Business that stands before the Motion to approve the Standing Order has not been completed, it will be adjourned until after the Order has been dealt with; and if the earlier Business has been dealt with we shall adjourn during pleasure until 4.15 p.m. 794 I am glad to be able to meet the noble Viscount, and I am obliged to him for the suggestion.
§ VISCOUNT STANSGATEMy Lords, I am grateful to the noble Earl for saying what he has done, because I am sure that this course will facilitate debate. I presume that when the House is in Committee Members will have the ordinary privilege of moving any Amendment that appears necessary without giving notice on the Paper?
THE EARL OF HOMEYes. Of course, I rely upon the noble Viscount to exercise restraint in the matter.
§ VISCOUNT ALEXANDER OF HILLSBOROUGHMy Lords, I am grateful to the Leader of the House for the statement he has made. He has asked whether the Leaders of the two sections of the Opposition will agree, and of course I heartily agree. I must congratulate my noble and gallant friend Lord Stansgate on having at last got a real concession out of the House, after his many efforts to get certain interpretations of Standing Orders: I think it is a marked success. Nevertheless, on a matter as controversial as this debate on Monday is likely to be, I think it is a gracious step on the part of the noble Earl the Leader of the House to meet the request, and I am happy to join with him in the course he proposes.
LORD TERRINGTONMy Lords, in the absence of my noble Leader, Lord Rea, may I say, on behalf of noble Lords on these Benches, that we are pleased to agree with what the noble Earl the Leader of the House has said.
§ THE MARQUESS OF SALISBURYMy Lords, arising out of what the Leader of the House has said, am I to understand that it is to become normal practice for Amendments to be moved on Committee stage without notice? I think that that would be a rather undesirable general development. After all, Peers wish to know what Amendments are going to be moved, and they may not be here if they have no notice of them. I quite see that a special case should be made in a particular instance for this to be done, but I think it would be undesirable for it to become the general practice.
§ VISCOUNT STANSGATEMy Lords, it is not for me to answer the noble Marquess except to repudiate the suggestion that I asked for any general practice 795 of moving Amendments suddenly—nothing of the kind. I asked for the application of Standing Order No. 55, which sets out in the clearest way the great improvement of debate that would follow the adoption of this practice.
THE EARL OF HOMEMy Lords, I think that under the practice to which the noble Marquess referred—and I am glad he has done so—it is possible to move Amendments in this way, but it is deprecated.