To ask the Lord President of the Council when a Special Standing Committee set up under Standing Order No. 91 last considered a Bill; and whether he will make a statement on this procedure.

The last Bill to be considered by a Special Standing Committee was the Matrimonial and Family Proceedings Bill [Lords] in the 1983–84 Session.The Government will continue to consider the possible use of this procedure in appropriate cases where this is compatible with the overall management of their legislative programme.