§ Brought from the Commons; read 1a, and referred to the Examiners.
§ THE CHAIRMAN OF COMMITTEES (THE EARL OF LISTOWEL)My Lords, I beg to move the Motion in italics standing in my name on the Order Paper. I should like briefly to explain why I am asking the House to agree to an abbreviation of the usual 10 days allowed for depositing Petitions against this Bill to a period expiring at 1 p.m. to-morrow. The Bill is a Commons Bill, and it received its Third Reading in that House late on Thursday of last week. The Bill having received its formal First Reading in this House this afternoon, in the normal course of events 10 days' petitioning time would then ensue. This, of course, would extend into the Summer Recess, and so the Bill could not receive the Royal Assent before the House rises. Such a postponement could not, of course, justify curtailing petitioning time in the case of any Private Bill other than the Greater London (Money) Bill.
Under the London Government Act 1963, however, the expenditure of the Greater London Council on capital account and on lending to other persons, such as housing loans to individuals and associations, is required to be regulated by annual Private Money Acts promoted by the Council—each of which authorises expenditure for a period of 18 months ending on September 30. If the current regulating Bill does not receive the Royal Assent by that date this year the financial consequences for the Council will be most serious. So far as I know, no Petition has ever been deposited against such a Money Bill. For these reasons, and in these exceptional circumstances, I believe it is proper for me to ask the House to agree to this Motion. I beg to move.
§ Moved, That Private Business Standing Order No. 101 (limit of time for presenting petition against Bill) be dispensed with in respect of the Bill, and that no Petition may be deposited against the Bill later than one o'clock To-morrow afternoon.—(The Earl of Listowel.)
§ On Question, Motion agreed to.