Standing Orders of the House of Commons

House of Commons

Standing Orders of the House of Commons - Public Business 1997- continued

Standing Committees - continued

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Northern Ireland Grand Committee (composition and business)     109. - (1) There shall be a standing committee called the Northern Ireland Grand Committee, which shall consist of all Members representing constituencies in Northern Ireland, together with not more than twenty-five other Members nominated by the Committee of Selection, which shall have power from time to time to discharge the Members so nominated by it and to appoint others in substitution for those discharged.

    (2) The quorum of the committee shall be seven, subject to paragraph (5) of Standing Order No. 116 (Northern Ireland Grand Committee (sittings)).

    (3) The business of the committee shall include-

(a) questions tabled in accordance with Standing Order No. 110 (Northern Ireland Grand Committee (questions for oral answer));

(b) short debates held in accordance with Standing Order No. 111 (Northern Ireland Grand Committee (short debates));

(c) ministerial statements proceeded with under Standing Order No. 112 (Northern Ireland Grand Committee (ministerial statements));

(d) bills referred to it for consideration or further consideration in relation to their principle, in accordance with Standing Order No. 113 (Northern Ireland Grand Committee (bills in relation to their principle));

(e) such legislative proposals and other specified matters relating exclusively to Northern Ireland as may be referred to it in accordance with Standing Order No. 114 (Northern Ireland Grand Committee (legislative proposals and other matters relating exclusively to Northern Ireland));

(f) instruments (whether or not in draft) referred to it in accordance with Standing Order No. 115 (Northern Ireland Grand Committee (delegated legislation)); and

(g) motions for the adjournment of the committee, made under paragraph (5) of Standing Order No. 116 (Northern Ireland Grand Committee (sittings)).

    (4) Any Minister of the Crown, being a Member of the House, though not a member of the committee, may take part in the deliberations of the committee and may make a motion, but shall not vote or be counted in the quorum.

Northern Ireland Grand Committee (questions for oral answer)     110. - (1) Notices of questions for oral answer in the Northern Ireland Grand Committee by Northern Ireland Office ministers on a day specified in an order made under paragraph (1) of Standing Order No. 116 (Northern Ireland Grand Committee (sittings)) may be given by members of the committee in the Table Office.

    (2) Notices of questions given under this order shall bear an indication that they are for oral answer in the Northern Ireland Grand Committee.

    (3) No more than one notice of a question may be given under this order by any member of the committee for each day specified under paragraph (1) of Standing Order No. 116 (Northern Ireland Grand Committee (sittings)) for the taking of questions.

    (4) On any day so specified under paragraph (1) of Standing Order No. 116 (Northern Ireland Grand Committee (sittings)), questions shall be taken at the commencement of the sitting; no such question shall be taken later than half an hour after the commencement of the proceedings thereon; and replies to questions not reached shall be printed with the Official Report of the committee's debates for that day.

    (5) Notices of questions under this order may be given ten sitting days before that on which an answer is desired, save where otherwise provided by a memorandum under paragraph (8) of Standing Order No. 22 (Notices of questions, motions and amendments):
Provided that when it is proposed that the House shall adjourn for a period of fewer than four days, any day during that period (other than a Saturday or a Sunday) shall be counted as a sitting day for the purposes of the calculation made under this paragraph.

Northern Ireland Grand Committee (short debates)     111. - (1) Notices of subjects to be raised in short debates in the Northern Ireland Grand Committee, on a day specified in an order made under paragraph (1) of Standing Order No. 116 (Northern Ireland Grand Committee (sittings)), may be given by members of the committee in the Table Office.

    (2) Subjects of which notice is given under paragraph (1) of this order must relate to Northern Ireland.

    (3) Not more than one notice of a subject may be given under this order by any member of the committee for each day specified under paragraph (1) of Standing Order No. 116 (Northern Ireland Grand Committee (sittings)), for the holding of short debates.

    (4) On any day so specified such debates shall be held at the commencement of the sitting or, if the order under paragraph (1) specifies also the taking of questions on that day, immediately after questions.

    (5)

(a) No Member except the Minister of the Crown replying to the debate shall be called to speak later than half an hour after the commencement of the first such debate.

(b) The Member who gave notice of the subject and the Minister of the Crown replying to the debate may each speak for five minutes. Other Members may speak for three minutes.

(c) The chairman may direct any Member who exceeds the limits in sub-paragraph (b) to resume his seat forthwith.

    (6) Notice of subjects under this order may be given ten sitting days before that on which they are sought to be raised:
Provided that when it is proposed that the House shall adjourn for a period of fewer than four days, any day during that period (other than a Saturday or a Sunday) shall be counted as a sitting day for the purposes of the calculation made under this paragraph.

Northern Ireland Grand Committee (ministerial statements)     112. - (1) The chairman of the Northern Ireland Grand Committee may permit a Minister of the Crown, whether or not a Member of the House, to make a statement, of which prior notice has been given to him, on a matter relating to Northern Ireland, and to answer questions thereon put by members of the committee.

    (2) Ministerial statements may be made-

(a) at the commencement of a sitting; or

(b) if questions are taken, immediately after the conclusion of proceedings thereon; or

(c) if short debates are held, immediately after the conclusion of those proceedings.

    (3) Proceedings under this order shall be brought to a conclusion at the discretion of the chairman.

    (4) A Minister of the Crown making a statement under paragraph (1) of this order, who is not a Member of the House, may not do so from the body of the committee; and shall not vote, make any motion or be counted in the quorum.

Northern Ireland Grand Committee (bills in relation to their principle)     113. - (1) On the order being read for the second reading of a public bill relating exclusively to Northern Ireland, a motion may be made by a Minister of the Crown (or in the case of a private Member's bill, by the Member in charge of the bill), "That the bill be referred to the Northern Ireland Grand Committee"; and the question thereon shall be put forthwith and may be decided at any hour, though opposed:
Provided that such a motion may be made by a private Member only with the leave of the House.

    (2) A bill so referred to the Northern Ireland Grand Committee shall be considered on a motion, "That the Committee has considered the bill in relation to its principle"; and, when the committee has considered that question for a total of two and a half hours (whether on one or more than one day), the chairman shall put the question necessary to dispose of the motion, and shall then report accordingly to the House (or shall report that the committee has come to no resolution), without any further question being put thereon:
Provided that a Minister of the Crown may, immediately before the motion "That the Committee has considered the bill in relation to its principle" is made, make without notice a motion to extend the time-limit specified in this paragraph; and the question on such motion shall be put forthwith.

    (3) A bill in respect of which a report has been made under paragraph (2) above shall be ordered to be read a second time on a future day.

    (4) When a motion shall have been made for the second reading of a bill to which paragraph (3) above applies, the question thereon shall be put forthwith and may be decided at any hour, though opposed.

    (5) At the conclusion of proceedings on consideration on report of a bill in respect of which a report has been made under paragraph (2) above, or on the order being read for the third reading of such a bill, a motion may be made by a Minister of the Crown (or in the case of a private Member's bill by the Member in charge of the bill), "That the Bill be referred again to the Northern Ireland Grand Committee"; and the question thereon shall be put forthwith and may be decided at any hour, though opposed:
Provided that such a motion may be made by a private Member only with the leave of the House.

    (6) A bill so referred again to the Northern Ireland Grand Committee shall be considered on a motion, "That the Committee has further considered the bill in relation to its principle"; and, when the committee has considered that question for a total of one and a half hours (whether on one or more than one day), the chairman shall put the question necessary to dispose of the motion, and shall then report accordingly to the House (or shall report that the committee has come to no resolution), without any further question being put thereon:
Provided that a Minister of the Crown may, immediately before the motion "That the Committee has further considered the bill in relation to its principle" is made, make without notice a motion to extend the time-limit specified in this paragraph; and the question on such motion shall be put forthwith.

    (7) A bill in respect of which a report has been made under paragraph (6) above shall be ordered to be read the third time on a future day.

    (8) When a motion shall have been made for the third reading of a bill to which paragraph (7) above applies, the question thereon shall be put forthwith and may be decided at any hour, though opposed.

Northern Ireland Grand Committee (legislative proposals and other matters relating exclusively to Northern Ireland).     114. - (1) A motion may be made by a Minister of the Crown at the commencement of public business to the effect that a legislative proposal or other specified matter relating exclusively to Northern Ireland be referred to the Northern Ireland Grand Committee for its consideration, and the question thereon shall be put forthwith.

    (2) If such a motion be agreed to, the committee shall consider the legislative proposal or matter referred to it and shall report only that it has considered the said legislative proposal or matter.

    (3) In this order and in Standing Orders No. 109 (Northern Ireland Grand Committee (composition and business)) and No. 116 (Northern Ireland Grand Committee (sittings)) "a legislative proposal" means a proposal for a draft Order in Council relating exclusively to Northern Ireland.

Northern Ireland Grand Committee (delegated legislation)     115. - (1) Where-

(a) a Member has given notice of a motion for a humble address to Her Majesty praying that a statutory instrument be annulled, or of a motion of a similar character relating to a statutory instrument, or to any other instrument (whether or not in draft) which may be subject to proceedings in the House in pursuance of a statute, or of a motion that the House takes note of a statutory instrument, or

(b) a Minister of the Crown has given notice of a motion to the effect that an instrument (whether or not in draft) upon which proceedings may be taken in pursuance of an Act of Parliament (other than a draft deregulation order) be approved,

a motion may be made by a Minister of the Crown, "That the instrument be referred to the Northern Ireland Grand Committee"; and the question on such motion shall be put forthwith and may be decided at any hour, though opposed.

    (2) The committee shall consider each instrument referred to it on a motion, "That the Committee has considered the instrument"; and the chairman shall put any question necessary to dispose of the proceedings on the motion, if not previously disposed of, not later than two and a half hours after the commencement of proceedings thereon; and shall thereupon report the instrument to the House without any further question being put:
Provided that a Minister of the Crown may, immediately before the motion "That the Committee has considered the instrument" is made, make without notice a motion to extend to three hours the time-limit specified in this paragraph; and the question on such motion shall be put forthwith.

    (3) If any motion is made in the House of the kind specified in paragraph 1(a) or 1(b) of this order, in relation to any instrument in respect of which a report has been made to the House in accordance with paragraph (2) of this order, the Speaker shall put forthwith the question thereon; which may be decided at any hour, though opposed.

Standing Orders of the House of Commons - Public Business 1997- continued
Standing Committees - continued
back to previous text

Northern Ireland Grand Committee (composition and business)	109. - (1) There shall be a standing committee called the Northern Ireland Grand Committee, which shall consist of all Members representing constituencies in Northern Ireland, together with not more than twenty-five other Members nominated by the Committee of Selection, which shall have power from time to time to discharge the Members so nominated by it and to appoint others in substitution for those discharged.
	(2) The quorum of the committee shall be seven, subject to paragraph (5) of Standing Order No. 116 (Northern Ireland Grand Committee (sittings)).
	(3) The business of the committee shall include-
	(a) questions tabled in accordance with Standing Order No. 110 (Northern Ireland Grand Committee (questions for oral answer));
	(b) short debates held in accordance with Standing Order No. 111 (Northern Ireland Grand Committee (short debates));
	(c) ministerial statements proceeded with under Standing Order No. 112 (Northern Ireland Grand Committee (ministerial statements));
	(d) bills referred to it for consideration or further consideration in relation to their principle, in accordance with Standing Order No. 113 (Northern Ireland Grand Committee (bills in relation to their principle));
	(e) such legislative proposals and other specified matters relating exclusively to Northern Ireland as may be referred to it in accordance with Standing Order No. 114 (Northern Ireland Grand Committee (legislative proposals and other matters relating exclusively to Northern Ireland));
	(f) instruments (whether or not in draft) referred to it in accordance with Standing Order No. 115 (Northern Ireland Grand Committee (delegated legislation)); and
	(g) motions for the adjournment of the committee, made under paragraph (5) of Standing Order No. 116 (Northern Ireland Grand Committee (sittings)).
	(4) Any Minister of the Crown, being a Member of the House, though not a member of the committee, may take part in the deliberations of the committee and may make a motion, but shall not vote or be counted in the quorum.
Northern Ireland Grand Committee (questions for oral answer)	110. - (1) Notices of questions for oral answer in the Northern Ireland Grand Committee by Northern Ireland Office ministers on a day specified in an order made under paragraph (1) of Standing Order No. 116 (Northern Ireland Grand Committee (sittings)) may be given by members of the committee in the Table Office.
	(2) Notices of questions given under this order shall bear an indication that they are for oral answer in the Northern Ireland Grand Committee.
	(3) No more than one notice of a question may be given under this order by any member of the committee for each day specified under paragraph (1) of Standing Order No. 116 (Northern Ireland Grand Committee (sittings)) for the taking of questions.
	(4) On any day so specified under paragraph (1) of Standing Order No. 116 (Northern Ireland Grand Committee (sittings)), questions shall be taken at the commencement of the sitting; no such question shall be taken later than half an hour after the commencement of the proceedings thereon; and replies to questions not reached shall be printed with the Official Report of the committee's debates for that day.
	(5) Notices of questions under this order may be given ten sitting days before that on which an answer is desired, save where otherwise provided by a memorandum under paragraph (8) of Standing Order No. 22 (Notices of questions, motions and amendments): Provided that when it is proposed that the House shall adjourn for a period of fewer than four days, any day during that period (other than a Saturday or a Sunday) shall be counted as a sitting day for the purposes of the calculation made under this paragraph.
Northern Ireland Grand Committee (short debates)	111. - (1) Notices of subjects to be raised in short debates in the Northern Ireland Grand Committee, on a day specified in an order made under paragraph (1) of Standing Order No. 116 (Northern Ireland Grand Committee (sittings)), may be given by members of the committee in the Table Office.
	(2) Subjects of which notice is given under paragraph (1) of this order must relate to Northern Ireland.
	(3) Not more than one notice of a subject may be given under this order by any member of the committee for each day specified under paragraph (1) of Standing Order No. 116 (Northern Ireland Grand Committee (sittings)), for the holding of short debates.
	(4) On any day so specified such debates shall be held at the commencement of the sitting or, if the order under paragraph (1) specifies also the taking of questions on that day, immediately after questions.
	(5)
	(a) No Member except the Minister of the Crown replying to the debate shall be called to speak later than half an hour after the commencement of the first such debate.
	(b) The Member who gave notice of the subject and the Minister of the Crown replying to the debate may each speak for five minutes. Other Members may speak for three minutes.
	(c) The chairman may direct any Member who exceeds the limits in sub-paragraph (b) to resume his seat forthwith.
	(6) Notice of subjects under this order may be given ten sitting days before that on which they are sought to be raised: Provided that when it is proposed that the House shall adjourn for a period of fewer than four days, any day during that period (other than a Saturday or a Sunday) shall be counted as a sitting day for the purposes of the calculation made under this paragraph.
Northern Ireland Grand Committee (ministerial statements)	112. - (1) The chairman of the Northern Ireland Grand Committee may permit a Minister of the Crown, whether or not a Member of the House, to make a statement, of which prior notice has been given to him, on a matter relating to Northern Ireland, and to answer questions thereon put by members of the committee.
	(2) Ministerial statements may be made-
	(a) at the commencement of a sitting; or
	(b) if questions are taken, immediately after the conclusion of proceedings thereon; or
	(c) if short debates are held, immediately after the conclusion of those proceedings.
	(3) Proceedings under this order shall be brought to a conclusion at the discretion of the chairman.
	(4) A Minister of the Crown making a statement under paragraph (1) of this order, who is not a Member of the House, may not do so from the body of the committee; and shall not vote, make any motion or be counted in the quorum.
Northern Ireland Grand Committee (bills in relation to their principle)	113. - (1) On the order being read for the second reading of a public bill relating exclusively to Northern Ireland, a motion may be made by a Minister of the Crown (or in the case of a private Member's bill, by the Member in charge of the bill), "That the bill be referred to the Northern Ireland Grand Committee"; and the question thereon shall be put forthwith and may be decided at any hour, though opposed: Provided that such a motion may be made by a private Member only with the leave of the House.
	(2) A bill so referred to the Northern Ireland Grand Committee shall be considered on a motion, "That the Committee has considered the bill in relation to its principle"; and, when the committee has considered that question for a total of two and a half hours (whether on one or more than one day), the chairman shall put the question necessary to dispose of the motion, and shall then report accordingly to the House (or shall report that the committee has come to no resolution), without any further question being put thereon: Provided that a Minister of the Crown may, immediately before the motion "That the Committee has considered the bill in relation to its principle" is made, make without notice a motion to extend the time-limit specified in this paragraph; and the question on such motion shall be put forthwith.
	(3) A bill in respect of which a report has been made under paragraph (2) above shall be ordered to be read a second time on a future day.
	(4) When a motion shall have been made for the second reading of a bill to which paragraph (3) above applies, the question thereon shall be put forthwith and may be decided at any hour, though opposed.
	(5) At the conclusion of proceedings on consideration on report of a bill in respect of which a report has been made under paragraph (2) above, or on the order being read for the third reading of such a bill, a motion may be made by a Minister of the Crown (or in the case of a private Member's bill by the Member in charge of the bill), "That the Bill be referred again to the Northern Ireland Grand Committee"; and the question thereon shall be put forthwith and may be decided at any hour, though opposed: Provided that such a motion may be made by a private Member only with the leave of the House.
	(6) A bill so referred again to the Northern Ireland Grand Committee shall be considered on a motion, "That the Committee has further considered the bill in relation to its principle"; and, when the committee has considered that question for a total of one and a half hours (whether on one or more than one day), the chairman shall put the question necessary to dispose of the motion, and shall then report accordingly to the House (or shall report that the committee has come to no resolution), without any further question being put thereon: Provided that a Minister of the Crown may, immediately before the motion "That the Committee has further considered the bill in relation to its principle" is made, make without notice a motion to extend the time-limit specified in this paragraph; and the question on such motion shall be put forthwith.
	(7) A bill in respect of which a report has been made under paragraph (6) above shall be ordered to be read the third time on a future day.
	(8) When a motion shall have been made for the third reading of a bill to which paragraph (7) above applies, the question thereon shall be put forthwith and may be decided at any hour, though opposed.
Northern Ireland Grand Committee (legislative proposals and other matters relating exclusively to Northern Ireland).	114. - (1) A motion may be made by a Minister of the Crown at the commencement of public business to the effect that a legislative proposal or other specified matter relating exclusively to Northern Ireland be referred to the Northern Ireland Grand Committee for its consideration, and the question thereon shall be put forthwith.
	(2) If such a motion be agreed to, the committee shall consider the legislative proposal or matter referred to it and shall report only that it has considered the said legislative proposal or matter.
	(3) In this order and in Standing Orders No. 109 (Northern Ireland Grand Committee (composition and business)) and No. 116 (Northern Ireland Grand Committee (sittings)) "a legislative proposal" means a proposal for a draft Order in Council relating exclusively to Northern Ireland.
Northern Ireland Grand Committee (delegated legislation)	115. - (1) Where-
	(a) a Member has given notice of a motion for a humble address to Her Majesty praying that a statutory instrument be annulled, or of a motion of a similar character relating to a statutory instrument, or to any other instrument (whether or not in draft) which may be subject to proceedings in the House in pursuance of a statute, or of a motion that the House takes note of a statutory instrument, or
	(b) a Minister of the Crown has given notice of a motion to the effect that an instrument (whether or not in draft) upon which proceedings may be taken in pursuance of an Act of Parliament (other than a draft deregulation order) be approved,
	a motion may be made by a Minister of the Crown, "That the instrument be referred to the Northern Ireland Grand Committee"; and the question on such motion shall be put forthwith and may be decided at any hour, though opposed.
	(2) The committee shall consider each instrument referred to it on a motion, "That the Committee has considered the instrument"; and the chairman shall put any question necessary to dispose of the proceedings on the motion, if not previously disposed of, not later than two and a half hours after the commencement of proceedings thereon; and shall thereupon report the instrument to the House without any further question being put: Provided that a Minister of the Crown may, immediately before the motion "That the Committee has considered the instrument" is made, make without notice a motion to extend to three hours the time-limit specified in this paragraph; and the question on such motion shall be put forthwith.
	(3) If any motion is made in the House of the kind specified in paragraph 1(a) or 1(b) of this order, in relation to any instrument in respect of which a report has been made to the House in accordance with paragraph (2) of this order, the Speaker shall put forthwith the question thereon; which may be decided at any hour, though opposed.