§ 11.35 a.m.
§ The Chairman of Committees (Lord Aberdare)My Lords, I beg to move the Motion standing in my name on the Order Paper. This standing order follows the recommendation of the Third Report of the Procedure Committee to which your Lordships agreed yesterday.
While on the subject of standing orders perhaps I may be allowed to correct an answer which I gave to the noble Lord, Lord Shackleton, on 15th July (at col. 13 of Hansard) when seeking agreement to a new Private Bill Standing Order No. 27A. The noble Lord asked whether when Private Bill standing orders were re-edited and re-issued that standing order would be renumbered 28. I told him that that would be so, but I was wrong. Private Bill standing orders apply to both Houses and are extensively used by parliamentary agents and the parliamentary Bar. It would cause confusion and expense to renumber them and it has never been the practice to do so. I apologise to the House and particularly to the noble Lord. I am grateful for this opportunity to set the record right.
§ Moved, That the standing orders relating to public business be amended as follows:
§ After Standing Order 64E:
§ Insert the following new Standing Order:
§ Concurrent
§ Meetings,
§ 25th July 1991.
§ 64A Any Select Committee of the House shall have leave to confer and meet concurrently with any Committee or Sub-Committee of the Commons appointed to consider a similar matter, for the purpose of deliberating or taking evidence, and may communicate to any such Committee or Sub-Committee its evidence or any other documents relating to matters of common interest. Any Select Committee of the House shall also have leave to give this power to confer and meet concurrently to any Sub-Committee appointed by it. —(The Chairman of Committees.)
§ On Question, Motion agreed to.