§ THE LORD CHANCELLORMy Lords, I beg to move the Motion standing in my name on the Order Paper. Your Lordships will remember that on Thursday the House appointed the two Appellate Committees which are the Committees which determine Judicial Business for your Lordships' House. This Motion is for the appointment of the two Appeal Committees which consider applications and petitions for leave to appeal. The reason for appointing two Committees with the same memberships is, as was the case with the Appellate Committees, that when necessary it enables two Committees to sit at the same time. I beg to move.
Moved, That this House, in discharge of its constitutional duty to act as the ultimate tribunal in appeals from England, Scotland and Northern Ireland, orders that two Committees, each of which shall include all Lords qualified under Section 5 of the Appellate Jurisdiction Act 1876, as amended by any subsequent enactment, be appointed to consider, during the present Session, such Petitions as may be referred to them and other matters relating to Causes depending in this House, and to Causes formerly 45 depending in this House; and all other matters relating thereto; and that the Committees do appoint their own chairmen; and that, in pursuance of Section 1 of the Administration of Justice Act 1960, in all Appeals in which the leave of this House is required under that Act, the Petition or Application for leave to appeal shall, after being received by this House, be referred to one of such Committees as aforesaid, and such Committee may, after consideration whether such leave should be granted, take its decision and give directions accordingly on behalf of the House.—(The Lord Chancellor.)
§ On Question, Motion agreed to, and ordered accordingly.