§ 2.58 p.m.
§ The LORD CHANCELLOR (Lord Elwyn-Jones) rose to move, That the Standing Orders relating to public business be amended as follows:—
§ Standing Order No. 14
§ At end insert the following new paragraph—
§ "(3) Notwithstanding any adjournment of the House, the House may meet for judicial business at a time earlier than that appointed if the Lord Chancellor or, in his absence, the senior Lord of Appeal in Ordinary, is satisfied that it should do so and has signified 1698 that he is so satisfied and has given notice to such Lords as he thinks fit".
§ The noble and learned Lord said: My Lords, the Motion seeks to give effect to a recommendation contained in the First Report of the Procedure Committee to which the House agreed on 31st January. At present there is no provision for the House to meet judicially at a time earlier than that to which it stands adjourned. The Committee were of the opinion that such provision should be made in order to enable the House to despatch unforeseen and urgent judicial business while the House stands adjourned.
§ The proposed Amendment would make the necessary change in Standing Order No. 14, which already provides for an emergency recall of the House in the case of public business. I am sure that the Amendment is a desirable one, for it is clearly necessary that it should be impossible for the validity of the judicial proceedings of the House to be impugned on the ground that the House, sitting judicially, was doing so without proper authority. I beg to move.
§ Moved, That the Standing Orders relating to public business be amended as follows:—
§ Standing Order No. 14
§ At end insert the following new paragraph—
§ "(3) Notwithstanding any adjournment of the House, the House may meet for judicial business at a time earlier than that appointed if the Lord Chancellor or, in his absence, the senior Lord of Appeal in Ordinary, is satisfied that it should do so and has signified that he is so satisfied and has given notice to such Lords as he thinks fit".
§ —(The Lord Chancellor.)
§ On Question, Motion agreed to.