§ 3.8 p.m.
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THE CHAIRMAN OF COMMITTEES (THE EARL OF LISTOWEL) rose to move the following Amendment to the Standing Orders relative to Private Bills:
Standing Order 216, after paragraph 1 insert the following new paragraph 1(A):
("An order in council, departmental order, rules, regulations, scheme or other similar instrument laid in draft before the House for the purpose of being affirmed by resolution of the House is a Special Order within the meaning of the preceding paragraph notwithstanding that if the draft is not approved the instrument is subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House.")
§ The noble Earl said: My Lords, I beg to move the Motion standing in my name on the Order Paper. I think that your Lordships will expect a short explanation of it. The purpose of the Amendment to Private Bills Standing Orders which I now move is to provide that Orders in Council made under the European Communities Act will be considered and reported on by the Special Orders Committee before coming to the House for approval. The present definition, in Standing Order 216, of a Special Order does not include these Orders because, under the terms of the Act, they can be subject to the Negative Resolution procedure if not approved in craft by Affirmative Resolution of each House. The procedure laid down in Standing Order 216 does not cover such a case, where there is a choice between the Negative and the Affirmative Resolution procedure. If the definition of "Special Order" contained in Standing Order 216 is widened by inserting the proposed new paragraph, these Orders will receive the same consideration by the House as do all other Statutory Instruments requiring Affirmative Resolution. My Lords, I beg to move.
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Moved, as an Amendment to the Standing Orders relative to Private Bills:
Standing Order 216, after paragraph I insert the following new paragraph 1(A):
("An order in council, departmental order, rules, regulations, scheme or other similar instrument laid in draft before tine House for the purpose of being affirmed by resolution of the House is a Special Order within the meaning of the preceding paragraph notwithstanding that if the draft is not approved the instrument is subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House.").—(The Earl of Listowel.)
§ On Question, Motion agreed to.