§ 6. Insert the following Standing Order—
1036§ (" .—(1) ORDERED, that the parties, or either party, to an Appeal may apply by letter to the Clerk of the Parliaments requesting, upon grounds stated in the letter, the attendance of Nautical Assessors, or the Lord Chancellor or the Lord Speaker may, in the absence of any application by the parties, direct the attendance of Nautical Assessors.
§ (2) ORDERED, that in each Appeal in which the attendance of Nautical Assessors is required, there shall be two Assessors, to be selected by the Lord Chancellor or the Lord Speaker and of whom one shall be an Officer, active or retired, of Her Majesty's Navy, and the other an Elder Brother of the Corporation of Trinity House.
§ (3) ORDERED, that the fees to be paid to each Assessor for each day or part of a day's attendance shall be such as shall be authorised from time to time by the House.
§ (4) ORDERED, that Assessors, other than Elder Brethren of the Corporation of Trinity House, shall, in addition to the attendance fee, be paid reasonable sums in respect of travelling expenses and subsistence.
§ (5) ORDERED, that the amount of such fees and expenses, failing any special order of the House on the subject, shall be paid by the party against whom costs are awarded, or by his agent, into the House of Lords Account immediately after the determination of the Appeal.")—[The Lord Chancellor.]
§ Lord HAILSHAM of SAINT MARY-LEBONEMy Lords, I am sure that the House will agree to these Amendments. There is only one question which I would like to put to the noble and learned Lord, as we very seldom have a chance of discussing these matters in the House. It was my experience at the Bar that the Standing Orders of the House of Lords were not very easily made available to the profession. Would the noble and learned Lord make quite sure that these Amendments are properly circulated in the circles where both branches of the profession can get them? Will he look into the problem of making the general Orders of the House of Lords better known in professional circles?
§ The LORD CHANCELLORMy Lords, I will do my best to comply with both of the suggestions which have fallen from the noble and learned Lord.
§ On Question, Motion agreed to.