HL Deb 24 July 1969 vol 304 cc1076-7
THE CHAIRMAN OF COMMITTEES (THE EARL OF LISTOWEL)

My Lords, I beg to move that the Second Report from the Committee on Procedure of the House be now considered.

Moved, accordingly, and, on Question, Motion agreed to.

The Committee's Report was as follows:

1. IRISH PEERS

On November 24th 1966 the House endorsed the opinion of the Committee for Privileges that the right to elect Irish representative Peers no longer exists".

In the light of this decision, the Committee have considered Standing Orders Nos. 68 and 69, which purport to regulate:—

  1. (a) claims to a right to vote at elections of Peers of Ireland;
  2. (b) the procedure for treating the claims to Irish Peerages in abeyance.

The Committee have taken note of the fact that Standing Order 68 has been used as a means of validating routine claims to the succession of Irish Peerages, as distinct from Peerage claims that would arise on petition to the Sovereign.

The Committee understand that, notwithstanding the decision of the House, taken on November 24th 1966, in regard to Irish representative Peers, the Lord Chancellor is nevertheless prepared to continue to consider and decide such routine claims to succession in the Peerage of Ireland as may be submitted to him.

In these circumstances, the Committee recommend that Standing Order 68 should be amended by leaving out the words "A claim of a right to vote at elections of Peers of Ireland to sit in the Parliament of the United Kingdom" and inserting in their place:— A claim to any Peerage of Ireland".

They see no reason to amend Standing Order 69.

2. DIVISIONS: INSUFFICIENCY OF TELLERSM

The Committee have considered the procedure to be followed in cases in which, after a Division has been called, a single Teller only is forthcoming. In such a case the terms of Standing Order 47 cannot be complied with, and the Committee recommend that the Lord on the Woolsack or in the Chair (as the case may be); shall then declare that the question is resolved in favour of the majority; and that the following form of words be used:— My Lords, Tellers for the Contents [Not-Contents] have not been appointed pursuant to Standing Order No. 47. A Division, therefore, cannot take place, and I declare that the Not-Contents [Contents] have it.

THE EARL OF LISTOWEL

My Lords, I beg to move that this Report be agreed to.

Moved, that the Report be agreed to.—(The Earl of Listowel.)

On Question, Motion agreed to.