– in the House of Commons am ar 3 Gorffennaf 1925.
Captain William Benn
, Leith
May I ask a question of the Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury as to the business of the House? I understand that the Unemployment Insurance Bill will be taken on Tuesday. Is it intended to send that to a Standing Committee, or to take it downstairs?
Captain William Benn
, Leith
Is it physically possible for hon. Members to attend upstairs at eleven o'clock on that Bill, and to attend a discussion on the Contributory Pensions Bill downstairs in the afternoon, both Bills relating to exactly the same body of contributors. Would the right hon. Gentleman consider the very great difficulties it would impose, both from the point of view of the quality of legislation and of the physical capacity of Members?
Sir Bolton Eyres-Monsell
, Evesham
It is nothing new. I do not think we are going to take too much out of Members. As regards the Bill under discussion to day, we are cut going to sit late any more on that Bill. It is nothing new to consider Bills on the Floor of this House and to take Bills in Standing Committee at the same time.
Captain William Benn
, Leith
But has the right hon. Gentleman considered how these two Bills are inter-related? It will be impossible to produce a proper scheme when the two Measures are being taken together, and being considered by the same Members at the same time.
Mr George Hardie
, Glasgow Springburn
Would it not be better to make arrangements on the lines of the suggestion I made the other day— that we should have alternate days, one day for Standing Committee and the other day for the House? That would be far better than the present system. It is impossible to work under the present system, when a Member wants to be in the House and also wants to be in the Standing Committee. It shows great lack of business organisation. It has resulted in sitting through the night, worrying people all over the House, and not getting efficiency.
Mr David Kirkwood
, Dumbarton District of Burghs
Am I in order on putting a question to the Secretary for Scotland regarding the Bill he has presented?
Mr John Whitley
, Halifax
Not unless it is in regard to the business of the House.
Mr David Kirkwood
, Dumbarton District of Burghs
Yes, the business of the House. The question I wish to put is this: This Bill has been held up for a considerable time, with the result that the factors in Clydebank are evicting people because they say they are "fed up" with waiting for the Government to act. That is their statement. I would ask the Secretary for Scotland to get into touch at once with the factors, and ask them to desist from evicting people, and to tell them that we will try to get this Bill through, and to make some settlement.
Mr John Gilmour
, Glasgow Pollok
All I can suggest is that if hon. Gentlemen on the other side will facilitate the passage of this Measure, I think we shall get the solution.
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.
A proposal for new legislation that is debated by Parliament.