§ Order of the Day for the consideration of the First Report from the Select Committee read.
§ The Committee reported as follows:
§ 1. QUESTIONS FOR WRITTEN ANSWER
§ The Committee recommend that the practice regarding the publication of answers to questions for written answer be altered and that answers be issued to Hansard and to the Press Gallery at 4.30 p.m. without an embargo on use and publication. This recommendation would bring the practice of the House into line with that of the House of Commons. It involves some risk that Peers may receive answers to their questions for written answer after publication by the Press.
§ 2. EQUALITY OF VOTES IN A DIVISION ON A PRIVATE BILL
§ The Committee consider that the provision of Standing Order 49 (Equality of votes on a Division) govern the proceedings on a Private Bill including the proceedings in a Select Committee in the same manner as they apply to a Public Bill.
§ 3. WITHDRAWAL OF AMENDMENTS
§ The Committee recommend that amendments to Public Bills may, at the wish of the proposer and with the agreement of any Peers who may have added their names to his, be withdrawn from a marshalled list at any time before it is sent to the printer.
§ 4. THE NEW COMPANION TO THE STANDING ORDERS
§ The Committee have considered the proof of the Companion to the Standing Orders and Guide to the Proceedings of the House of Lords, and adjourned further consideration until the next meeting of the Committee.
THE CHAIRMAN OF COMMITTEES (LORD MERTHYR)My Lords, I beg to move that this Report be now considered.
§ Moved accordingly, and, on Question, Motion agreed to.
LORD MERTHYRMy Lords, while I am very willing to try to answer any questions which any of your Lordships may have, I do not think there is any particular point to which I wish to draw attention. I beg to move that this Report be now agreed to.
§ Moved, That the Report be agreed to.—(Lord Merthyr.)
§ On Question, Motion agreed to.