§ The Lord President of the Council (Viscount Whitelaw)My Lords, I beg to move the Motion standing in my name on the Order Paper.
As your Lordships will recall, on 28th January last this House agreed the orders of reference of the Joint Committee on Private Legislation Procedure. The committee has since met and has expressed a wish to appoint specialist advisers. This power is not at present available to it in the terms of the order of the House of 28th January. I understand that this request from the committee to be able to appoint specialist advisers arises from a need to have expert advice to hand on planning inquiries and on the working of parliamentary agents. The Chairman of the Joint Committee, Mr. McNair-Wilson, approached the Lord Privy Seal and me with this request and we consider it to be entirely reasonable. The House of Commons agreed to a Motion on these lines yesterday and I hope that this House will now also agree that the committee has the power that it seeks to appoint specialist advisers.
§ Moved, That the Commons message of yesterday be now considered and that the committee have power to appoint specialist advisers.—(Viscount Whitelaw.)
§ On Question, Motion agreed to, and a message was sent to the Commons to acquaint them therewith.