rose to move, That the Standing Orders relative to Private Bills be amended as follows:
Page 51, before Standing Order 110 insert following new Standing Order:
"If it appears to the Chairman of Committees that any Bill for which a Petition has been presented in either House of Parliament involves points to which the attention of the House should be specially directed he shall so report thereon to the House."
The noble Earl said: My Lords, the Motion that I have to propose to your Lordships is that the Standing Orders relative to Private Bills be amended as stated on the Paper. The Standing Order which I have to lay before your Lordships needs a little explanation. From time to time, although not very often, perhaps, Private Bills are promoted in your Lordships' House to which, for reasons of public policy, it may be desirable to call the special attention of the House. For example, a Bill might be promoted to override a decision of your Lordships' House, sitting judicially, in favour of some particular individual, or may be for other reasons the particular attention of your Lordships should be called to a Bill. In another place it is the duty of the Chairman of Committees, if he considers that the special attention of the House should be called to any particular Bill, so to report. This is an obligation upon him, and he is responsible for seeing that it is carried out. After a good deal of consideration and consultation, I have come to the conclusion that it would be desirable if a similar Standing Order were included in those which govern procedure in your Lordships' House, and therefore I submit the Standing Order on the Paper, which has been drafted very much on the lines of the one in another place. I beg to move.
Moved, That the Standing Orders relative to Private Bills be amended as follows:
Page 51, before Standing Order 110 insert following new Standing Order:
("If it appears to the Chairman of Committees that any Bill for which a Petition has been presented in either House of Parliament involves points to which the attention of the House should be specially directed he shall so report thereon to the House.")—(The Earl of Onslow.)
On Question, Motion agreed to, and ordered accordingly. The said Standing Order to be printed.