HL Deb 16 July 1973 vol 344 cc934-5

2.56 p.m.

THE CHAIRMAN OF COMMITTEES (THE EARL OF LISTOWEL) rose to move, That Standing Order No. 147 (Bill as amended in Committee to be deposited at Public Departments) be suspended until the House rises for the Summer Recess. The noble Earl said: My Lords, I beg to move the Motion standing in my name on the Order Paper. At this time in the Session I usually have to ask your Lordships to dispense with this Standing Order in order to enable several Private Bills to pass through both Houses of Parliament before the Summer Recess. The purpose of suspending the Standing Order is to shorten the period between Committee and Third Reading by not requiring that the Government Departments concerned shall receive the amended Bill three clear days in advance. My Lords, I beg to move.

Moved, That Standing Order No. 147 (Bill as amended in Committee to be deposited at Public Departments) be suspended until the House rises for the Summer Recess.—(The Earl of Listowel.)

THE EARL OF LAUDERDALE

My Lords, before this Motion is passed may we have a word from the Lord Chairman of Committees about whether the Third Reading of the British Transport Docks (Hull Docks) Bill is to be taken to-day, or whether we may have a period of time to study it, particularly those noble Lords who have taken an interest in it and who may even not yet have had time to read the proceedings in Committee?

THE EARL OF LISTOWEL

My Lords, I had proposed to say—I do not know whether it is in order to say it now—that I do not propose to ask your Lordships this afternoon to consider the Third Reading of the Bill to which the noble Earl, Lord Lauderdale, has referred. That is the information the noble Earl has asked for.

LORD SHACKLETON

My Lords, before we proceed may I ask the noble Earl the Chairman of Committees whether I am correct in understanding that the Third Reading of the British Transport Docks (Hull Docks) Bill is not to be moved? Since it is on the Order Paper should is not be read and, in the light of his earlier explanation, should not the noble Earl say, "Not moved"? I do not know, but I thought that it was for the noble and learned Lord the Lord Chancellor to read what was on the Order Paper. But I may be wrong.

THE EARL OF LISTOWEL

My Lords, perhaps I may be permitted to explain that I had proposed to say that I did not propose to move this Motion this afternoon; and perhaps I should add, as the noble Lord the Leader of the Opposition has asked me the question, that I am doing so because several noble Lords have informed me that they wish to speak on Third Reading.

On Question, Motion agreed to.