HL Deb 29 November 2004 vol 667 cc265-9
The Chairman of Committees (Lord Brabazon of Tara)

My Lords, I beg to move the four Motions standing in my name on the Order Paper.

Economic Affairs

Moved, That a Select Committee be appointed to consider economic affairs;

That, as proposed by the Committee of Selection, the following Lords be named of the committee—

That the committee have power to appoint a sub-committee and to refer to such sub-committee any of the matters within the terms of reference of the committee; that the committee have power to appoint the chairman of such sub-committee;

That the committee have power to co-opt any Lord for the purpose of serving on such sub-committee;

That the committee have power to adjourn from place to place;

That the committee have power to appoint specialist advisers;

That the committee have leave to report from time to time:

That the minutes of evidence taken before the Economic Affairs Committee or any sub-committee in the last Session of Parliament be referred to the committee;

That the minutes of evidence taken before the committee from time to time shall, if the committee think fit, be printed.

European Union

Moved, That a Select Committee be appointed to consider European Union documents and other matters relating to the European Union;

That the expression "European Union documents" shall include the following documents:

  1. (i) Any proposal under the Community Treaties for legislation by the Council or the Council acting jointly with the European Parliament;
  2. (ii) Any document which is published for submission to the European Council, the Council or the European Central Bank;
  3. (iii) Any proposal for a common strategy, a joint action or a common position under Title V (provisions on a common foreign and security policy) of the Treaty on European Union which is prepared for submission to the Council or to the European Council;
  4. (iv) Any proposal for a common position, framework decision, decision or a convention under Title VI (provisions on police and judicial co-operation in criminal matters) of the Treaty on European Union which is prepared for submission to the Council;
  5. (v) Any document (not falling within (ii), (iii) or (iv) above) which is published by one Union institution for or with a view to submission to another Union institution and which does not relate exclusively to consideration of any proposal for legislation;
  6. (vi) Any other document relating to European Union matters deposited in the House by a Minister of the Crown.

That, as proposed by the Committee of Selection, the following Lords be named of the committee:

That the committee have power to appoint sub-committees and to refer to such sub-committees any of the matters within the terms of reference of the committee; that the committee have power to appoint the chairmen of sub-committees, but that such sub-committees have power to appoint their own chairman for the purpose of particular inquiries; that two be the quorum of such sub-committees;

That the committee have power to co-opt any Lord for the purpose of serving on a sub-committee;

That the committee have power to appoint specialist advisers;

That the committee and any sub-committee have power to adjourn from place to place;

That the committee have leave to report from time to time;

That the reports of the Select Committee from time to time shall be printed, notwithstanding any adjournment of the House;

That the minutes of evidence taken before the European Union Committee or any sub-committee in the last session of Parliament be referred to the committee;

That the minutes of evidence taken before the committee from time to time shall, if the committee think fit, be printed.—(The Chairman of Committees.)

On Question, Motion agreed to.

Mental Health

Moved, That a committee of 12 Lords be appointed to join with a committee appointed by the Commons to consider and report on any draft Mental Health Bill presented to both Houses by a Minister of the Crown;

That, as proposed by the Committee of Selection, the Lords following be named of the committee:

That the committee have power to agree with the Commons in the appointment of a chairman;

That the committee have leave to report from time to time;

That the committee have power to appoint specialist advisers;

That the quorum of the committee shall be two;

That the committee have power to adjourn from place to place within the United Kingdom;

That the proceedings of the Joint Committee on the draft Mental Health Bill in the last Session of Parliament be referred to the committee;

That the reports of the committee from time to time shall be printed, notwithstanding any adjournment of the House;

And that the committee do report on the draft Bill by 31 March 2005.—(The Chairman of Committees.)

On Question, Motion agreed to; and a message was ordered to be sent to the Commons to acquaint them therewith.

Merits of Statutory Instruments

Moved, That a Select Committee be appointed to consider every instrument which is laid before each House of Parliament and upon which proceedings may be or might have been taken in either House of Parliament, in pursuance of an Act of Parliament, being:

  1. (i) a statutory instrument, or a draft of a statutory instrument;
  2. (ii) a scheme, or an amendment of a scheme, or a draft thereof, requiring approval by statutory instrument; or
  3. (iii) any other instrument (whether or not in draft), where the proceedings in pursuance of an Act of Parliament are proceedings by way of an affirmative or negative resolution;
but excluding any Order in Council or draft Order in Council made or proposed to be made under paragraph 1 of the Schedule to the Northern Ireland Act 2000 and any remedial order or draft remedial order under Schedule 2 to the Human Rights Act 1998 and any draft order proposed to be made under Section 1 of the Regulatory Reform Act 2001, or any subordinate provisions order made or proposed to be made under that Act;

with a view to determining whether the special attention of the House should be drawn to it on any of the following grounds:

  1. (a) that it is politically or legally important or gives rise to issues of public policy likely to be of interest to the House;
  2. (b) that it is inappropriate in view of the changed circumstances since the passage of the parent Act;
  3. (c) that it inappropriately implements EU legislation;
  4. (d) that it imperfectly achieves its policy objectives;

That, as proposed by the Committee of Selection, the following Lords be named of the committee:

That the committee have power to appoint specialist advisers;

That the committee have power to adjourn from place to place within the United Kingdom;

That the committee have leave to report from time to time;

That the reports of the Select Committee from time to time shall be printed, notwithstanding any adjournment of the House.—(The Chairman of Committees.)

On Question, Motion agreed to.