§ 11.31 a.m.
§ LORD SHEPHERDMy Lords, I beg to move the Motion standing in the name of my noble friend the Leader of the House. The suspension of Standing Order No. 41 is customary just before the Parliamentary Recess, but to the best of my knowledge, we have not previously suspended Standing Order No. 35 in relation to Special Orders. As the House will know, Special Orders, which are important forms on legislation, are required to be taken first. There are, of course, occasions when some Special Orders raise a serious debate, and others when there is merely an explanation. There is also the consequence, I suppose, that the House gets a little restive 1355 and would prefer to move on to the main item on the Order Paper.
What we are now proposing until the Summer Recess is that, by agreement through the usual channels, those Orders which we do not think raise great matters of controversy should be taken at the end of the day, but if there is an Order which in our view is likely to cause serious debate, then that will be treated as in the past. I hope the House will agree to this suggestion. If we can watch it with interest, it might be a matter which we could refer to the Procedure Committee in the next Session to see whether it should not be a regular feature of our Business.
Moved, That Standing Order No. 35 (Arrangement of the Order Paper) be suspended until the House adjourns for the Summer Recess so far as is necessary to allow Special Orders to be taken after Public Bills, Measures and Motions; and that Standing Order No. 41 (No two stages of a Bill to be taken on one day) be suspended for the same period.—(Lord Shepherd.)
EARL ST. ALDWYNMy Lords, I should like to support the noble Lord, Lord Shepherd, in what he has said about these Orders. I think it is highly desirable that there should be flexibility as to when they are taken, and if this experiment is successful, I hope that it will become a permanent feature.