§ 3.2 p.m.
§ The CHAIRMAN of COMMITTEES (Lord Aberdare) rose to move, That the 649 Bills be committed to a Select Committee and that notwithstanding the provisions of Private Bill Standing Order 109(a) there shall in respect of each Bill be referred to the Committee only such petitions or parts of petitions as complain of clauses common to two or more of the Bills, or related provisions; namely, the petitions of the Confederation of British Road Passenger Transport, and the Confederation of British Industry. The noble Lord said: My Lords, I beg to move the Motion standing in my name on the Order Paper. This Motion follows a successful precedent in setting up a special Select Committee to deal with those petitions against clauses of the large county council Bills—so-called "jumbo Bills"—when these petitions cover more than one of the Bills. This avoids the possibility that three separate Select Committees might treat the petitions differently, and also saves time. In this instance there are petitions lodged by the Confederation of British Road Passenger Transport against clauses common to all three Bills, and by the CBI against clauses common to the County of Kent Bill and the Humberside Bill. These petitions will be sent before this one Select Committee if your Lordships agree to this Motion. I beg to move.
§ Moved, That the Bills be committed to a Select Committee and that notwithstanding the provisions of Private Bill Standing Order 109(a) there shall in respect of each Bill be referred to the Committee only such petitions or parts of petitions as complain of clauses common to two or more of the Bills, or related provisions; namely, the petitions of the Confederation of British Road Passenger Transport; and the Confederation of British Industry.—(Lord Aberdare.)
§ On Question, Motion agreed to.