UK Parliament — House of Commons

There shall be a general committee called the Regional Affairs Committee, which shall consider any matter relating to regional affairs in England which may be referred to it.

The Committee shall consist of thirteen Members representing English constituencies nominated by the Committee of Selection; and in nominating such Members, the Committee of Selection shall-

have regard to the qualifications of the Members nominated and to the composition of the House; and

have power to discharge Members from time to time, and to appoint others in substitution.

Any Member of the House representing an English constituency, though not nominated to the committee, may take part in its proceedings, but may not make any motion, vote or be counted in the quorum; provided that a Minister of the Crown who is a Member of this House but not nominated to the committee may make a motion as specified in paragraph (10) below.

The quorum of the committee shall be three.

Paragraph (1) of Standing Order No. 88 (Meetings of general committees) shall not apply to the committee; except that the proviso to that paragraph shall apply to any sitting at Westminster.

A motion may be made in the House by a Minister of the Crown to specify (or to vary) any or all of the following-

the matter or matters to be referred to the Committee;

the period to be allotted to proceedings on such matters;

when and where (within England) the Committee shall meet;

the hours for the commencement and conclusion of any sitting;

any days when the committee shall meet at Westminster;

and such motion may be moved at any time; and the question thereon shall be put forthwith and may be decided at any hour, though opposed.

Where any order made under paragraph (6) above makes no provision for the period to be allotted to the proceedings on any matter or matters which have been referred to the committee for consideration at a particular sitting, those proceedings shall be brought to a conclusion no later than three hours after their commencement.

At the commencement of business at any sitting of the committee, the chair may permit Ministers of the Crown, being Members of the House, to make statements on any matter or matters referred to the committee for consideration at that sitting, and may then permit members of the committee to ask questions thereon.

No question on a statement by a Minister of the Crown shall be taken after the expiry of a period of one hour from the commencement of the first such statement, except that the chair may, at his discretion, allow such questions to be taken for a further period not exceeding half an hour.

The committee shall, following any such statements and questions, consider each matter referred to it on a motion 'That the committee has considered the matter'; the chair shall put the question necessary to dispose of the proceedings on each matter at the time, or after the period, specified in accordance with paragraph (6) or paragraph (7) of this order, and the committee shall thereupon report to the House that it has considered the matter or matters without any further question being put.

Any period allocated to the consideration of any matter or matters shall include any time spent on statements by Ministers of the Crown and questions thereon, except when otherwise provided by any order of the House made in accordance with paragraph (6) above.

There shall be a Standing Committee, to be called the Standing Committee on Regional Affairs, which shall consider any matter or matters relating to regional affairs in England which may be referred to them.

All Members sitting for constituencies in England shall be members of the Standing Committee, together with not more than five other Members to be nominated by the Committee of Selection, who shall have power from time to time to discharge the Members so nominated by them and to appoint others in substitution for those discharged, and the provisions of Standing Orders Nos. 62 (Nomination of standing committees) and 63 (Attendance of law officers and ministers in standing committees) shall not apply.

A motion may be made by a Minister of the Crown at the commencement of public business to the effect that a specified matter or matters relating to regional affairs in England be referred to the Standing Committee for their consideration, and the question thereon shall be put forthwith; and if, on the question being put, not less than twenty Members rise in their places and signify their objection thereto, Mr. Speaker shall declare that the noes have it.

The Committee shall consider the matter or matters referred to them on a motion 'That the Committee have considered the matter or matters'; and the Chairman shall put any question necessary to dispose of the proceedings on such a motion, if not previously concluded, when the Committee shall have sat for two and a half hours after the commencement of those proceedings; and the Committee shall thereupon report to the House that they have considered the matter or matters without any further question being put.

Six shall be the quorum of the Committee.