MR. Horatio Bottomley. – in the House of Commons am ar 25 Gorffennaf 1922.
Mr. JOHN WILLIAM WILSON reported from the Chairmen's Panel: That they had appointed Sir William Pearce to act as Chairman of Standing Committee B (in respect of the Milk and Dairies (Amendment) Bill [Lords] and the Post Office (Parcels) Bill); and Mr. John William Wilson as Chairman of the Standing Committee on Scottish Bills (in respect of the Education (Scotland) (Superannuation) Bill [Lords] and the Allotments (Scotland) Bill [Lords]).
In a normal session there are up to ten standing committees on bills. Each has a chair and from 16 to 50 members. Standing committee members on bills are appointed afresh for each new bill by the Committee of Selection which is required to take account of the composition of the House of Commons (ie. party proportions) as well as the qualification of members to be nominated. The committees are chaired by a member of the Chairmen's Panel (whose members are appointed by the Speaker). In standing committees the Chairman has much the same function as the Speaker in the House of Commons. Like the Speaker, a chairman votes only in the event of a tie, and then usually in accordance with precedent. The committees consider each bill clause by clause and may make amendments. There are no standing committees in the House of Lords.
As a bill passes through Parliament, MPs and peers may suggest amendments - or changes - which they believe will improve the quality of the legislation.
Many hundreds of amendments are proposed by members to major bills as they pass through committee stage, report stage and third reading in both Houses of Parliament.
In the end only a handful of amendments will be incorporated into any bill.
The Speaker - or the chairman in the case of standing committees - has the power to select which amendments should be debated.
A proposal for new legislation that is debated by Parliament.
