– in the House of Commons am 8:58 pm ar 7 Chwefror 1991.
Mr Harold Walker
, Doncaster Central
8:58,
7 Chwefror 1991
We now come to the motion on milk quotas.
Mr Nigel Spearing
, Newham South
9:03,
7 Chwefror 1991
On a point of order, Mr. Deputy Speaker. You will know that the motion is identical to a motion passed yesterday morning by Standing Committee A on European Legislation. You will be aware that, normally, with other such Committees in the past, the motion that was passed stood on the remaining Orders of the Day for at least a day to enable any hon. Member to table an Amendment if he so chose. If any hon. Member had chosen to do so today, it would be a manuscript amendment. Is it in the best practice of the House to table the motion on the effective Orders today? If so, is it in order?
Mr Harold Walker
, Doncaster Central
It is not out of order. However, I understand the hon. Gentleman's concern, and I very much hope that his remarks will be drawn to the attention of the Leader of the House.
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.
The Deputy speaker is in charge of proceedings of the House of Commons in the absence of the Speaker.
The deputy speaker's formal title is Chairman of Ways and Means, one of whose functions is to preside over the House of Commons when it is in a Committee of the Whole House.
The deputy speaker also presides over the Budget.
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.
