1896 — 14th August

UK Parliament — House of Commons — Public business

Sittings of the House
1 Rule regulating the usual Sittings of the House § (1) That, unless the House otherwise order, the House shall meet every Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday, at Three of the clock, and shall, unless previously adjourned, sit till One of the clock a.m., when the Speaker shall adjourn the House without Question put, unless a Bill originating in Committee of Ways and Means, or unless Proceedings made in pursuance of any Act of Parliament or Standing Order, or otherwise exempted as hereinafter provided from the operation of this Standing Order, be then under consideration.
§ (2) That at midnight on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays, except as aforesaid, and at half-past Five of the clock on Wednesdays, the proceedings on any business then under consideration shall be interrupted; and, if the House be in Committee, the Chairman shall leave the Chair, and make his report to the House; and if a Motion has been proposed for the Adjournment of the House, or of the Debate, or in Committee That the Chairman do report Progress, or do leave the Chair, every such dilatory Motion shall lapse without Question put; and the business then under consideration, and any business subsequently appointed, shall be appointed for the next day on which the House shall sit, unless the Speaker ascertains by the preponderance of voices that a Majority of the House desires that such business should be deferred until a later day.
§ (3) Provided always, That on the interruption of business the Closure may be moved; and if moved, or if proceedings under the Closure Rule be then in progress, the Speaker or Chairman shall not leave the Chair, until the Questions consequent thereon and on any further Motion, as provided in the Rule "Closure in Debate," have been decided.
§ (4) That after the business under consideration at Twelve, and half-past Five respectively, has been disposed of, no opposed business shall be taken; and the Orders of the Day, not disposed of at the close of the sitting, shall stand for the next day on which the House shall sit.
§ (5) That a Motion may be made by a Minister of the Crown at the commencement of Public Business, to be decided without Amendment or Debate, to the following effect: "That the proceedings on any specified business if under discussion at Twelve this night, be not interrupted under the Standing Order 'Sittings of the House.' "
§ (6) Provided always, That after any business exempted from the operation of this Resolution is disposed of, the remaining business of the sitting shall be dealt with according to the provisions applicable to business taken after Twelve o'clock.
§ (7) Provided also, That the Chairman of Ways and Means do take the Chair as Deputy Speaker, when requested so to do by Mr. Speaker, without any formal communication to the House. And that Mr. Speaker do nominate, at the commencement of every Session, a panel of not more than five Members to act as temporary Chairmen of Committees, when requested by the Chairman of Ways and Means.
Wednesday Sittings
2 House to meet on Wednesday, at Twelve o'Clock § (1) That The House do meet every Wednesday, at Twelve o'clock at noon, for Private Business, Petitions, Orders of the Day, and Notices of Motions, and do continue to sit until Six o'clock, unless previously adjourned.
3 House to adjourn on Wednesday, at Six o'Clock § (1) That when such business has been disposed of, or at Six o'clock precisely, notwithstanding there may be business under discussion, Mr. Speaker do adjourn The House, without putting any Question.
Morning Sittings
4 Order of Business at Two o'Clock § (1) That, unless the House shall otherwise order, whenever the House shall meet at Two o'clock, the House will proceed with Private Business, Petitions, Motions for unopposed Returns, and leave of absence to Members, giving Notices of Motions, Questions to Ministers, and such Orders of the Day as shall have been appointed for the Morning Sitting.
5 Suspension of Sitting at Seven o'clock § (1) That on such days, if the business be not sooner disposed of, the House will suspend its sitting at Seven o'clock; and at Ten minutes before Seven o'clock, unless the House shall otherwise order, Mr. Speaker shall adjourn the Debate on any business then under discussion, or the Chairman shall report Progress, as the case may be; and no opposed business shall then be proceeded with.
6 Sitting resumed at Nine o'Clock § (1) That when such business has not been disposed of at Seven o'clock, unless the House shall otherwise order, Mr. Speaker (or the Chairman, in case the House shall be in Committee) do leave the Chair, and the House will resume its sitting at Nine o'clock, when the Orders of the Day not disposed of at the Morning Sitting, and any Motion which was under discussion at Ten Minutes to Seven o'clock, shall be set down in the Order Book after the other Orders of the Day.
7 When Chairman reports Progress at Nine o'Clock § (1) That whenever the House shall be in Committee at Seven o'clock, the Chairman do report Progress when the House resumes its sitting.
8 Sittings at Nine o'Clock § (1) That the Sittings of the House at Nine o'clock be held subject to the provisions of Standing Order No. 1 which relate to the Interruption of Business and the Adjournment of the House.
Address in Answer to the Queen's Speech
9 Committee Stage of Address Discontinued § (1) That the stages of Committee and Report on the Address to Her Majesty to convey the thanks of the House for Her Majesty's Most Gracious Speech to both Houses of Parliament, at the opening of the Session, be discontinued.
Orders of the Day
10 Orders of the Day on Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays § (1) That, unless The House shall otherwise direct, all Orders of the Day set down in the Order Book for Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays, shall be disposed of before The House will proceed upon any Motions of which Notices shall have been given, the right being reserved to Her Majesty's Ministers of placing Government business, whether Orders or Motions, at the head of the list on every Order Day, except Wednesday.
11 Orders of Day on Friday when Supply is first Order § (1) That, while the Committees of Supply, and Ways and Means are open, the first Order of the Day on Friday shall be either Supply, or Ways and Means, and that on that Order being read, the Question shall be proposed, "That Mr. Speaker do now leave the Chair."
12 Order of Bills other than Government Bills after Whitsuntide § (1) That after Whitsuntide, Public Bills, other than Government Bills, be arranged on the Order Book so as to give priority to the Bills most advanced, and that Lords' Amendments to Public Bills appointed to be considered, be placed first, to be followed by Third Readings, Considerations of Report, Bills in Progress in Committee, Bills appointed for Committee, and Second Readings.
13 Orders of the Day to be read without Question put § (1) That at the time fixed for the commencement of Public Business, on days on which Orders have precedence of Notices of Motions, and after the Notices of Motions have been disposed of, on all other days, Mr. Speaker do direct the Clerk at the Table to read the Orders of the Day, without any Question being put.
14 Order in which Orders of the Day shall be disposed of § (1) That the Orders of the Day be disposed of in the order in which they stand upon the Paper; the right being reserved to Her Majesty's Ministers of placing Government Orders or Motions at the head of the List, in the rotation in which they are to be taken on the days on which Government Bills have precedence.
Government Business: Power of Arrangement
15 Priority extended to Notices of Motion § (1) That on days on which Government business has priority, the Government may arrange such Government business, whether Orders of the Day or Notices of Motions, in such order as they may think fit.
Motions for Bills, and Nominations of Committees
16 Motions for Bills, &c., at the Commencement of Public business § (1) That on Tuesdays and Fridays, and, if set down by the Government, on Mondays and Thursdays, Motions for leave to bring in Bills, and for the Nomination of Select Committees, may be set down for consideration at the commencement of Public Business. If such Motions be opposed, Mr. Speaker, after permitting, if he thinks fit, a brief explanatory statement from the Member who moves and from the Member who opposes any such Motion respectively, may, without further Debate, put the Question thereon, or the Question, That the Debate be now adjourned.
Adjournment of the House
17 Motions for Adjournment after Questions, on a matter of urgent public importance § (1) That no Motion for the Adjournment of the House shall be made until all the questions on the Notice Paper have been disposed of, and no such Motion shall be made before the Orders of the Day, or Notices of Motion have been entered upon, except by leave of the House, unless a Member rising in his place shall propose to move the Adjournment for the purpose of discussing a definite matter of urgent public importance, and not less than Forty Members shall thereupon rise in their places to support the Motion; or unless, if fewer than Forty Members and not less than Ten shall thereupon rise in their places, the House shall, on a Division, upon Question put forthwith, determine whether such Motion shall be made.
18 Adjournment of House on Friday, when Committees of Supply, &c., are open § (1) That, while the Committee of Supply and Ways and Means are open, The House, when it meets on Friday, shall, at its rising, stand adjourned until the following Monday, without any Question being put, unless The House shall otherwise resolve.
Notices of Motions
19 Notice not to exceed Four Notice Days § (1) That no Notice shall be given beyond the period which shall include the Four Days next following on which Notices are entitled to precedence; due allowance being made for any intervening adjournment of The House, and the period being in that case so far extended as to include Four Notice Days falling during the sitting of The House.
Questions to Members
20 Notice to be given in Writing § (1) That Notices of questions be given by Members in writing to the Clerk at the Table, without reading them viva voce in the House, unless the consent of the Speaker to any particular question has been previously obtained.
Order in Debate
21 Order in Debate: Suspension of Members § (1) That, whenever any Member shall have been named by The Speaker, or by the Chairman of a Committee of the whole House, immediately after the commission of the offence of disregarding the authority of the Chair, or of abusing the Rules of The House by persistently and wilfully obstructing the business of The House, or otherwise, then, if the offence has been committed by such Member in The House, The Speaker shall forthwith put the question, on a Motion being made, no amendment, adjournment, or debate being allowed, "That such Member be suspended from the service of The House;" and, if the offence has been committed in a Committee of the whole House, the Chairman shall, on a Motion being made, put the same Question in a similar way, and if the Motion is carried shall forthwith suspend the proceedings of the Committee and report the circumstance to The House; and the Speaker shall thereupon put the same Question, without amendment, adjournment, or debate, as if the offence had been committed in The House itself.
§ (2) If any Member be suspended under this Order, his suspension on the first occasion shall continue for one week, on the second occasion for a fortnight, and on the third, or any subsequent occasion, for a month.
§ (3) Provided always, That suspension from the service of The House shall not exempt the Member so suspended from serving on any Committee for the consideration of a Private Bill to which he may have been appointed before his suspension.
§ (4) Provided also, That not more than one Member shall be named at the same time, unless several Members, present together, have jointly disregarded the authority of the Chair.
§ (5) Provided always, That nothing in this Resolution shall be taken to deprive The House of the power of proceeding against any Member according to ancient usages.
22 Debate on Motions for Adjournment § (1) That when a Motion is made for the Adjournment of a Debate or of The House during any Debate, or that the Chairman of a Committee do Report Progress, or do leave the Chair, the Debate thereupon shall be confined to the matter of such Motion; and no Member, having moved or seconded any such Motion, shall be entitled to move, or second, any similar Motion during the same Debate.
23 Motions for Adjournment in Abuse of the Rules of the House § (1) That, if Mr. Speaker, or the Chairman of a Committee of the whole House, shall be of opinion that a Motion for the Adjournment of a Debate, or of The House, during any Debate, or that the Chairman do Report Progress, or do leave the Chair, is an abuse of the Rules of the House, he may forthwith put the Question thereupon from the Chair, or he may decline to propose the Question thereupon to the House.
24 Irrelevance or Repetition § (1) That Mr. Speaker or the Chairman, after having called the attention of the House, or of the Committee to the conduct of a Member, who persists in irrelevance, or tedious repetition either of his own arguments, or of the arguments used by other Members in Debate, may direct him to discontinue his speech.
Orders relating to Closure of Debate
25 Closure of Debate § (1) That, after a Question has been proposed, a Member rising in his place may claim to move, "That the Question be now put," and, unless it shall appear to the Chair that such Motion is an abuse of the Rules of the House, or an infringement of the rights of the minority, the Question "That the Question be now put," shall be put forthwith, and decided without Amendment or Debate:
§ (2) When the Motion "That the Question be now put" has been carried, and the Question consequent thereon has been decided, any further Motion may be made (the assent of the Chair, as aforesaid, not having been withheld) which may be requisite to bring to a decision any Question already proposed from the Chair; and also if a Clause be then under consideration, a Motion may be made (the assent of the Chair as aforesaid not having been withheld), That the Question, That certain words of the Clause defined in the Motion stand part of the Clause, or That the Clause stand part of, or be added to the Bill, be now put. Such Motions shall be put forthwith, and decided without Amendment or Debate:
§ (3) Provided always, that this Rule shall be put in force only when the Speaker or the Chairman of Ways and Means is in the Chair.
26 Majority for Closure of Debate § (1) That Questions for the Closure of Debate under Standing Order No. 25 shall be decided in the affirmative, if, when a Division be taken, it appears by the Numbers declared from the Chair that not less than One Hundred Members voted in the Majority in support of the Motion.
Order in the House
27 Disorderly Conduct § (1) That Mr. Speaker, or the Chairman do order Members, whose conduct is grossly disorderly, to withdraw immediately from the House during the remainder of that day's sitting; and that the Serjeant-at-Arms do act on such Orders as he may receive from the Chair, in pursuance of this Resolution. But if, on any occasion, Mr. Speaker or the Chairman deems that his powers under this Standing Order are inadequate, he may Name such Member or Members in pursuance of the Standing Order "Order in Debate," or he may call upon The House to adjudge upon the conduct of such Member or Members.
§ (2) Provided always, That Members who are ordered to withdraw under this Standing Order, or who are suspended from the service of the House under the Standing Order "Order in Debate," shall forthwith withdraw from the precincts of the House, subject, however, in the case of such suspended Members, to the proviso in that Standing Order regarding their service on Private Bill Committees.
Divisions
28 Two-Minute Glass to be Turned § (1) That so soon as the Voices have been taken, the Clerk shall turn a two-minute Sand-Glass, to be kept on the Table for that purpose, and the Doors shall not be closed until after the lapse of Two Minutes, as indicated by such Sand-Glass.
29 Doors to be Closed after Lapse of Two Minutes § (1) That the Doors shall be closed so soon after the lapse of Two Minutes as the Speaker or the Chairman of the Committee of the whole House shall think proper to direct.
30 Divisions frivolously claimed § (1) That Mr. Speaker, or the Chairman may, after the lapse of Two Minutes as indicated by the Sand-Glass, if in his opinion the Division is frivolously or vexatiously claimed, take the Vote of the House, or Committee, by calling upon the Members who support, and who challenge his decision, successively to rise in their places; and he shall thereupon, as he thinks fit, either declare the determination of the House or Committee, or name Tellers for a Division. And, in case there is no Division, the Speaker or Chairman shall declare to the House or the Committee the number of the minority who had challenged his decision, and their names shall be thereupon taken down in the House, and printed with the list of Divisions.
Public Bills
31 First Reading of Bills § (1) That when any Bill shall be presented by a Member, in pursuance of an Order of this House, or shall be brought from The Lords, the Questions "That this Bill be now read a first time," and "That this Bill be printed," shall be decided without Amendment or Debate.
32 Committees on Bills, &c., (Progress) § (1) That when a Bill or other matter (except Supply or Ways and Means) has been partly considered in Committee, and the Chairman has been directed to report Progress, and ask leave to sit again, and The House shall have ordered that the Committee shall sit again on a particular day, The Speaker shall, when the Order for the Committee has been read, forthwith leave the Chair without putting any question, and The House shall thereupon resolve itself into such Committee.
33 Bills referred together to a Committee of the Whole House § (1) That Bills which may be fixed for consideration in Committee on the same day, whether in Progress or otherwise, may be referred together to a Committee of the whole House, which may consider on the same day all the Bills so referred to it, without the Chairman leaving the Chair on each separate Bill; provided that, with respect to any Bill not in Progress, if any Member shall object to its consideration in Committee, together with other Bills, the Order of the day for the Committee on such Bill shall be postponed.
34 Amendments in Committee § (1) That it be an Instruction to all Committees of the whole House to which Bills may be committed, that they have power to make such Amendments therein as they shall think fit, provided they be relevant to the subject matter of the Bill; but that if any such Amendments shall not be within the Title of the Bill, they do amend the Title accordingly, and do report the same specially to The House.
35 Postponement of Preamble § (1) That, in Committee on a Bill, the Preamble do stand postponed until after the consideration of the Clauses, without Question put.
36 Question not put on First and Second Reading of Bills in Committee § (1) That the Questions for reading a Bill a First and Second Time in a Committee of the whole House be discontinued.
37 Question not put on Blanks § (1) That in going through a Bill no Questions shall be put for the filling up words already printed in italics, and commonly called blanks, unless exception be taken thereto; and if no alterations have been made in the words so printed in italics, the Bill shall be reported without Amendments, unless other Amendments have been made thereto.
38 Clauses dealt with in Committee and on Report § (1) That on a Clause being offered in the Committee on the Bill, or on the consideration of Report of a Bill, Mr. Speaker or the Chairman do desire the Member to bring up the same, whereupon it shall be read a First Time without Question put, but no Clause shall be offered on consideration of Report without notice.
39 Bills Reported § (1) That at the close of the Proceedings of a Committee of the whole House on a Bill, the Chairman shall report the Bill forthwith to The House, and when Amendments shall have been made thereto, the same shall be received, without debate, and a time appointed for taking the same into consideration.
40 Consideration of a Bill, as Amended § (1) That, when the Order of the Day for the Consideration of a Bill, as amended in the Committee of the whole House, has been read, The House do proceed to consider the same without Question put, unless the Member in charge thereof shall desire to postpone its consideration, or a Motion shall be made to re-commit the Bill.
41 Amendments on Report § (1) That upon the Report stage of any Bill no Amendment may be proposed, which could not have been proposed in Committee without an Instruction from the House.
42 Amendments on Third Reading § (1) That no Amendments, not being merely verbal, shall be made to any Bill on the Third Reading.
43 Lords' Amendments § (1) That Lords' Amendments to Public Bills shall be appointed to be considered on a future day, unless The House shall order them to be considered forthwith.
44 Pecuniary Penalties § (1) That with respect to any Bill brought to this House from the House of Lords, or returned by the House of Lords to this House, with Amendments, whereby any pecuniary penalty, forfeiture, or fee shall be authorised, imposed, appropriated, regulated, varied, or extinguished, this House will not insist on its ancient and undoubted privileges in the following cases: -
§ (2) 1. When the object of such pecuniary penalty or forfeiture is to secure the execution of the Act, or the punishment or prevention of offences.
§ (3) 2. Where such fees are imposed in respect of benefit taken or service rendered under the Act, and in order to the execution of the Act, and are not made payable into the Treasury or Exchequer, or in aid of the Public Revenue, and do not form the ground of public accounting by the parties receiving the same, either in respect of deficit or surplus.
§ (4) 3. When such Bill shall be a private Bill for a Local or Personal Act.
45 Temporary Laws § (1) That the precise duration of every Temporary Law be expressed in a distinct Clause at the end of the Bill.
Standing Committees on Bills Relating to Law and Courts of Justice, Trade etc.
46 Revival of Standing Committees § (1) That the Resolutions of The House of the 1st December 1882 relating to the Constitution and Proceedings of Standing Committees for the Consideration of Bills relating to Law, and Courts of Justice, and Legal Procedure, and to Trade, Shipping, and Manufactures, be revived, and that Trade shall include Agriculture and Fishing.
47 Standing committees on Law and Courts of Justice, Trade, &c. § (1) That two Standing Committees be appointed for the consideration of all Bills relating to Law and Courts of Justice and Legal Procedure, and to Trade, Shipping, and Manufactures, which may, by Order of The House, in each case, be committed to them; and the procedure in such Committees shall be the same as in a Select Committee, unless The House shall otherwise order: Provided, That strangers shall be admitted, except when the Committee shall order them to withdraw. Provided also, That the said Committees shall be excluded from the operation of the Standing Order of July 21st, 1856, and the said Committee shall not sit, whilst The House is sitting, without the order of The House: Provided also, That any Notice of Amendment to any Clause in a Bill which may be committed to a Standing Committee, given by any honourable Member in the House, shall stand referred to such Committee: Provided also, That Twenty be the Quorum of such Standing Committees.
48 Nomination of Standing Committees by Committee of Selection § (1) That each of the said Standing Committees do consist of not less than Sixty, nor more than Eighty Members, to be nominated by the Committee of Selection, who shall have regard to the classes of Bills committed to such Committees, to the composition of The House, and to the qualifications of the Members selected; and shall have power to discharge Members from time to time, and to appoint others in substitution for those discharged. The Committee of Selection shall also have power to add not more than Fifteen Members to a Standing Committee in respect of any Bill referred to it, to serve on the Committee during the consideration of such Bill.
49 Appointment of Chairman of Standing Committees § (1) That the Committee of Selection shall nominate a Chairmen's Panel to consist of not less than Four nor more than Six Members, of whom Three shall be a Quorum; and the Chairmen's Panel shall appoint from among themselves the Chairman of each Standing Committee, and may change the Chairman so appointed from time to time.
50 Report of Bills referred to Standing Committees § (1) That all Bills which shall have been committed to one of the said Standing Committees shall, when reported to The House, be proceeded with, as if they had been reported from a Committee of the whole House: Provided, That the provisions of the Standing Order "Consideration of a Bill, as amended" shall not apply to a Bill reported to The House by a Standing Committee.
Committees of the Whole House
51 When the House resolves itself into Committee forthwith § (1) That whenever an Order of the Day is read for the House to resolve itself into Committee (not being a Committee to consider a Message from the Crown, or the Committee of Supply, or of Ways and Means, or the Committee on the East India Revenue Accounts), Mr. Speaker shall leave the Chair without putting any Question, and the House shall thereupon resolve itself into such Committee, unless Notice of an Instruction thereto has been given, when such Instruction shall be first disposed of.
52 Chairman when Ordered to Report leaves the Chair without Question put § (1) That when the Chairman of a Committee has been ordered to make a Report to the House, he shall leave the Chair without Question put.
53 Reports from Committees § (1) That every Report from a Committee of the whole House be brought up without any Question being put.
Supply and Ways and Means
54 Appointment of Committees of Supply, &c. § (1) That this House will, in future, appoint the Committees of Supply, and Ways and Means, at the commencement of every Session, so soon as an Address has been agreed to, in answer to Her Majesty's Speech.
55 Supply on Monday, Wednesday and Friday § (1) That the Committees of Supply, and Ways and Means shall be fixed for Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, and may also be appointed for any other day on which the House shall meet for despatch of business.
56 When Mr. Speaker leaves the Chair for Committee of Supply without Question put § (1) That whenever the Committee of Supply stands as an Order of the Day on Monday or Thursday, Mr. Speaker shall leave the Chair without putting any Question, unless on first going into Supply on the Army, Navy, or Civil Service Estimates respectively, or on any Vote of Credit, an Amendment be moved, or Question raised, relating to the Estimates proposed to be taken in Supply.
Public Money
57 Recommendation from the Crown (Applications for Public Money) § (1) That this House will receive no Petition for any sum relating to Public Service, or proceed upon any Motion for a grant or charge upon the Public Revenue, whether payable out of the Consolidated Fund or out of monies to be provided by Parliament, unless recommended from The Crown.
58 Petition, &c. (Grant of Money, Debts to the Crown) § (1) That this House will not proceed upon any Petition, Motion, or Bill, for granting any Money, or for releasing or compounding any Sum of Money owing, to The Crown, but in a Committee of the whole House.
59 Petition, &c. (Revenue Debts) § (1) That this House will not receive any Petition for compounding any Sum of Money owing to The Crown, upon any branch of the Revenue, without a Certificate, from the proper Officer or Officers, annexed to the said Petition, stating the Debt, what Prosecutions have been made for the Recovery of such Debt, and setting forth how much the Petitioner and his Security are able to satisfy thereof.
60 Address to Crown for Issue of Public Money § (1) That this House will not proceed upon any Motion for an Address to The Crown, praying that any money may be issued, or that any expense may be incurred, but in a Committee of the whole House.
61 Charge on Revenues of India § (1) That this House will not receive any Petition, or proceed upon any Motion for a Charge upon the Revenues of India, but what is recommended by the Crown.
62 Charge on the Public Revenue § (1) That if any Motion be made in The House for any aid, grant, or charge upon the Public Revenue, whether payable out of the Consolidated Fund or out of monies to be provided by Parliament, or for any charge upon the People, the consideration and debate thereof shall not be presently entered upon, but shall be adjourned till such further day as The House shall think fit to appoint, and then it shall be referred to a Committee of the whole House before any Resolution or Vote of The House do pass therein.
Packet and Telegraphic Contracts
63 Contracts to be approved by Resolution § (1) That in all Contracts extending over a period of years, and creating a public Charge, actual or prospective, entered into by the Government for the Conveyance of Mails by Sea, or for the purpose of Telegraphic Communications beyond Sea, there should be inserted the condition that the Contract shall not be binding until it has been approved of by a Resolution of the House.
64 Contracts to be laid on Table of House § (1) That every such Contract, when executed, should forthwith, if Parliament be then sitting, or, if Parliament be not then sitting, within Fourteen days after it assembles, be laid upon the Table of the House, accompanied by a Minute of the Lords of the Treasury, setting forth the grounds on which they have proceeded in authorizing it.
65 Contracts to be confirmed by Public Act § (1) That, in cases where any such Contract requires to be confirmed by Act of Parliament, the Bill for that purpose should not be introduced and dealt with as a Private Bill, and that power to the Government to enter into agreements by which obligations at the public charge shall be undertaken, should not be given in any Private Act.
Select Committees
66 Sitting of Committees § (1) That all Committees shall have leave to sit, except while The House is at Prayers, during the sitting, and notwithstanding any adjournment of The House.
67 Number on Select Committees § (1) That no Select Committee shall, without leave of The House, consist of more than Fifteen Members; that such leave shall not be moved for without Notice; and that in the case of Members proposed to be added or substituted, after the first appointment of the Committee, the Notice shall include the Names of the Members proposed to be added or substituted.
68 Consent from Members to Attend § (1) That every Member intending to move for the appointment of a Select Committee do endeavour to ascertain previously whether each Member proposed to be named by him on such Committee will give his attendance thereupon.
69 Notice of Names of Members § (1) That every Member intending to move for the appointment of a Select Committee, shall, One day next before the nomination of such Committee, place on the Notices the Names of the Members intended to be proposed by him to be Members of such Committee.
70 Lists of Members Serving § (1) That lists be affixed in some conspicuous place in the Committee Office, and in the Lobby of the House, of all Members serving on each Select Committee.
71 Entry of Questions asked of Witnesses in Minutes § (1) That to every Question asked of a Witness under examination, in the Proceedings of any Select Committee, there be prefixed in the Minutes of the Evidence, the Name of the Member asking such Question.
72 Entry of Names of Members in Minutes § (1) That the Names of the Members present each day on the sitting of any Select Committee be entered on the Minutes of Evidence, or on the Minutes of the Proceedings of the Committee (as the case may be) and reported to the House on the Report of such Committee.
73 Entry of Divisions § (1) That in the event of any Division taking place in any Select Committee, the Question proposed, the Name of the Proposer, and the respective Votes thereupon of each Member present, be entered on the Minutes of Evidence, or on the Minutes of the Proceedings of the Committee (as the case may be), and reported to The House on the Report of such Committee.
74 Presence of Quorum § (1) That if, at any time during the sitting of a Select Committee of this House, the Quorum of Members fixed by The House shall not be present, the Clerk of the Committee shall call the attention of the Chairman to the fact, who shall thereupon suspend the Proceedings of the Committee until a Quorum be present, or adjourn the Committee to some future day.
75 Report of Opinion, and Observations § (1) That every Select Committee having power to send for Persons, Papers, and Records, shall have leave to report their Opinion and Observations, together with the Minutes of Evidence taken before them, to The House, and also to make a Special Report of any matters which they may think fit to bring to the notice of The House.
76 Notice to Committees of House at Prayers § (1) That the Serjeant-at-Arms attending this House do, from time to time, when The House is going to Prayers, give Notice thereof to all Committees; and that all proceedings of Committees, after such Notice, be declared to be null and void, unless such Committees be otherwise empowered to sit after Prayers.
Public Accounts
77 Standing Committee on Public Accounts § (1) That there shall be a Standing Committee, to be designated "The Committee of Public Accounts," for the examination of the Accounts showing the appropriation of the sums granted by Parliament to meet the Public Expenditure, to consist of Eleven Members, who shall be nominated at the commencement of every Session, and of whom Five shall be a Quorum.
Public Petitions
78 Presentation of Petitions to The House § (1) That every Member offering to present a Petition to the House, not being a Petition for a Private Bill, or relating to a Private Bill before The House, do confine himself to a statement of the Parties from whom it comes, of the number of signatures attached to it, and of the material allegations contained in it, and to the reading of the prayer of such Petition.
79 No Debate on Presentation of Petitions § (1) That every such Petition not containing matter in breach of the Privileges of this House, and which, according to the Rules or usual Practice of this House, can be received, be brought to the Table by the direction of The Speaker, who shall not allow any Debate, or any Member to speak upon, or in relation to such Petition; but it may be read by the Clerk at the Table, if required.
80 Petitions regarding present Personal Grievance § (1) That, in the case of such Petition complaining of some present personal grievance, for which there may be an urgent necessity for providing an immediate remedy, the matter contained in such Petition may be brought into discussion on the presentation thereof.
81 Reference of Petitions to Committee on Public Petitions § (1) That all other such Petitions, after they shall have been ordered to lie on the Table, be referred to the Committee on Public Petitions, without any Question being put; but if any such Petition relate to any matter or subject, with respect to which the Member presenting it has given Notice of a Motion, and the said Petition has not been ordered to be printed by the Committee, such Member may, after Notice given, move that such Petition be printed with the Votes.
82 Petitions against Imposition of a Tax § (1) That, subject to the above regulations, Petitions against any Resolution or Bill imposing a Tax or Duty for the current service of the year be henceforth received, and the usage under which The House has refused to entertain such Petitions be discontinued.
Speaker
83 Office of Speaker § (1) That whenever The House shall be informed by the Clerk at the Table of the unavoidable absence of Mr. Speaker, the Chairman of the Committee of Ways and Means do perform the duties and exercise the authority of Speaker in relation to all proceedings of this House, as Deputy Speaker, until the next meeting of The House, and so on from day to day, on the like information being given to The House, until the House shall otherwise order; provided that if the House shall adjourn for more than Twenty-four hours, the Deputy Speaker shall continue to perform the duties and exercise the authority of Speaker for Twenty-four hours only after such adjournment.
Members
84 Seats in the House not to be Taken before Prayers § (1) That no Member's name be affixed to any seat in the House before the hour of Prayers; and that the Speaker do give directions to the Doorkeepers accordingly.
85 Seats in the House secured at Prayers § (1) That any Member having secured a seat at Prayers shall be entitled to retain the same until the rising of The House.
86 Time when Members may take Oath, &c. § (1) That Members may take and subscribe the Oath required by Law, at any time during the Sitting of The House, before the Orders of the Day and Notices of Motions have been entered upon, or after they have been disposed of; but no debate or business shall be interrupted for that purpose.
87 Affirmation made by Members in lieu of Oath § (1) That every person returned as a Member of this House, who may claim to be a person for the time being by Law permitted to make a solemn Affirmation or Declaration instead of taking an Oath, shall henceforth (notwithstanding so much of the Resolution adopted by this House on the 22nd day of June last as relates to Affirmation) be permitted, without Question, to make and subscribe a solemn Affirmation in the form prescribed by "The Parliamentary Oaths Act, 1866," as altered by "The Promissory Oaths Act, 1868," subject to any liability by Statute.
Witnesses before the House and its Committees
88 Oath, &c., to Witnesses administered in the House, &c. § (1) That any Oath or Affirmation taken or made by any Witness before The House, or a Committee of the whole House, be administered by the Clerk at the Table.
89 Oath, &c., to Witnesses administered in Select Committees § (1) That any Oath or Affirmation taken or made by any Witness before a Select Committee may be administered by the Chairman, or by the Clerk attending such Committee.
Strangers
90 Strangers in parts of the House appropriated to Members § (1) That the Serjeant-at-Arms attending this House do, from time to time, take into his custody any Stranger whom he may see, or who may be reported to him to be, in any part of the House or Gallery appropriated to the Members of this House, and also any Stranger who, having been admitted into any other part of the House or Gallery, shall misconduct himself, or shall not withdraw when Strangers are directed to withdraw, while The House, or any Committee of the whole House is sitting; and that no person so taken into custody be discharged out of custody without the special order of The House.
91 Members not to bring Strangers into the House § (1) That no Member of this House do presume to bring any Stranger into any part of the House or Gallery appropriated to the Members of this House, while The House, or a Committee of the whole House, is sitting.
92 Withdrawal of Strangers during Divisions § (1) That, except when Mr. Speaker or the Chairman of a Committee of the whole House shall otherwise direct, his order for the withdrawal of Strangers during a Division, shall be understood to apply to Strangers occupying seats below the Bar and in the Front Gallery, and shall be enforced by the Serjeant-at-Arms accordingly.
93 Withdrawal of Strangers from the House § (1) That if at any sitting of the House, or in Committee, any Member shall take notice that Strangers are present, Mr. Speaker, or the Chairman (as the case may be), shall forthwith put the Question, "That Strangers be ordered to withdraw," without permitting any Debate or Amendment: Provided that the Speaker, or the Chairman, may, whenever he thinks fit, order the withdrawal of Strangers from any part of the House.
Letters
94 Custody of Letters addressed to Members § (1) That, to prevent the intercepting or losing of Letters directed to Members of this House, the person appointed to bring Letters from the General Post Office to this House, or some other person to be appointed by the Postmaster General, do for the future, every day during the Session of Parliament, Sundays excepted, constantly attend, from Ten of the clock in the morning till Seven in the afternoon, at the place appointed for the delivery of the said Letters, and take care during his stay there, to deliver the same to the several Members to whom they shall be directed, or to their known servant or servants, or other person bringing notes under the hands of the Members sending for the same.
95 Directions to Officer in Charge of Letters § (1) That the said officer do, upon his going away, lock up such Letters as shall remain undelivered; and that no Letter be delivered but within the hours aforesaid.
96 Orders to be sent to Postmaster General § (1) That the said Orders be sent to the Postmaster General at the commencement of each Session.
97 Letters, &c., directed to this House § (1) That, when any Letter or Packet directed to this House shall come to Mr. Speaker, he do open the same; and acquaint the House, at their next sitting, with the contents thereof, if proper to be communicated to this House.
98 Parliamentary Papers § (1) That if during the existence of a Parliament Papers are commanded to be presented to this House by Her Majesty at any time, the delivery of such Papers to the Librarian of the House of Commons shall be deemed to be for all purposes the presentation of them to this House.