HL Deb 17 February 1972 vol 328 cc317-8
EARL JELLICOE

My Lords, I beg to move the Motion standing in my name on the Order Paper.—(Earl Jellicoe.)

Moved, That the Standing Orders relating to Public Business be amended as follows:

Standing Order No. 40

Leave out Standing Order No. 40 and insert the following new Standing Order— Questions for Written Answer.

40. A Question to which an answer in writing is desired may be placed on the Order Paper under the heading 'For Written Answer'. The reply shall be printed in the Official Report; it may be given on any sitting day including that on which the Question is handed in."

Standing Order No. 78

At end, insert the following new proviso—

"Provided that on an occasion of grave national emergency the House may, notwithstanding the provisions of Standing Order No. 33B, resolve without notice that it is essential for reasons of national security that a Bill (or Bills) should immediately be proceeded with and that the provisions of Standing Order No. 42 should be dispensed with to enable the House to proceed that day with every stage of a Bill (or Bills) which it thinks necessary: and if the Clerk shall have read Standing Orders Nos. 42 and 78 at the Table and the motion for the said resolution shall have been then agreed to, any such Bill may be passed through all its stages on that clay."

On Question, Motion agreed to.