The Next Business motion
4.61 A member who does not wish the House to
record an opinion on a motion that has been moved may, at any
time during the course of the debate, move "That the House
do proceed to the next business".[153]
It is helpful if a member who intends to move this motion gives
notice of his intention.
4.62 A Next Business motion supersedes the original
motion before the House and, if it is agreed to, the Question
on the original motion is not put, and the debate ends. If it
is disagreed to, the debate on the original motion is resumed
and the Question is put in the usual way.
4.63 The Next Business motion is debatable and,
since it cannot be debated without reference to the original motion,
the subject matter of both motions may be debated together. The
Next Business motion should be distinguished from the Closure,
namely "That the Question be now put", which is not
debatable: see below.
4.64 The Next Business motion is not allowed
on an amendment; although, after an amendment has been agreed
to, it may be moved on the original motion as amended. It may
not be moved in any committee of the House.
Closure[154]
4.65 The Closure, that is, the motion "that
the Question be now put", is not debatable and so requires
an immediate conclusion. If carried, it compels the House at once
to come to a decision on the original motion. It is a most exceptional
procedure. So when a member seeks to move the Closure, the Lord
on the Woolsack or in the Chair draws attention to its exceptional
nature, and gives the member concerned the opportunity to reconsider,
by reading the following paragraph to the House before the Question
is put:
[To be read slowly] "I am instructed
by order of the House to say that the motion "That the Question
be now put" is considered to be a most exceptional procedure
and the House will not accept it save in circumstances where it
is felt to be the only means of ensuring the proper conduct of
the business of the House; further, if a member who seeks to move
it persists in his intention, the practice of the House is that
the Question on the motion is put without debate."
4.66 If the member of the House who is seeking
to move the Closure persists, the Lord on the Woolsack or in the
Chair must put and complete the Question forthwith without debate,
in the following terms: "The Question is that the Question
be now put."
4.67 If the Closure is carried:
(a) the Lord on the Woolsack
or in the Chair remains on his feet after announcing the result
and immediately puts and completes the original Question without
further debate;
(b) the original Question cannot be withdrawn
because the House has decided that the Question be now put; and
(c) the Lord on the Woolsack or in the Chair
may not put any other Question until the original Question has
been disposed of.
108 Procedure 2nd Rpt 1981-82. Back
109
Procedure 2nd Rpt 1981-82, 1st Rpt 1987-88. Back
110
See also Report of the Select Committee on the Speakership of
the House of Lords, HL Paper 92 2005-06; resolutions of the House
12 July 2005 and 31 January 2006; Procedure 3rd and 4th Rpts 2005-06;
and House Committee 1st Rpt 2005-06. The first election took place
on 28 June 2006. Back
111
Procedure 3rd Rpt 2005-06 Back
112
SO 18. Back
113
There is no difference between Deputy Speakers and Deputy Chairmen
other than the method of their appointment: the former by Commission,
the latter by motion in the House on a report from the Committee
of Selection. Back
114
SO 62. Back
115
Under SO 63 the Lord Speaker may preside over Committee of the
whole House. Back
116
Except the House Committee, which is chaired by the Lord Speaker,
and the Appellate and Appeal Committees where the senior Lord
of Appeal in Ordinary present is ex officio chairman. Back
117
SO 17(2). Back
118
Procedure 1st Rpt 1973-74, 3rd Rpt 1974-75. Back
119
SO 64(5). Back
120
See paragraph 4.14. Back
121
SO 20(2). Back
122
Procedure 3rd Rpt 1995-96. Back
123
SO 22. Back
124
Also the Library, the Salisbury Room, the Writing Room, and all
bars and restaurants. Elsewhere they may be used with discretion.
HL Deb. 31 January 2007 col. WS 15. Back
125
Procedure 1st Rpt 1969-70. Back
126
SO 27. Back
127
Procedure 1st Rpt 1965-66. Back
128
Procedure 3rd Rpt 1990-91. Back
129
SO 28. Back
130
SO 29. Back
131
Procedure 2nd Rpt 1966-67, 2nd Rpt 1971-72. Back
132
Or before the sitting when the House sits in the morning. Back
133
Procedure 3rd Rpt 1995-96. Back
134
Procedure 1st Rpt 1977-78. Back
135
Procedure 1st Rpt 1977-78. Back
136
SO 30. Back
137
Procedure 1st Rpt 1969-70; 1st Rpt 1987-88; 3rd Rpt 1995-96; 1st
Rpt 1998-99; 1st Rpt 2002-03. Back
138
LJ (1964-65) 386. Back
139
Procedure 6th Rpt 1987-88. Back
140
Procedure 6th Rpt 1971-72, 1st Rpt 1982-83. Back
141
LJ (1935-36) 241. Back
142
Procedure 1st Rpt 1969-70, 4th Rpt 1992-93. Back
143
Procedure 1st Rpt 1980-81. Back
144
Procedure 1st Rpt 1969-70, 4th Rpt 1992-93. Back
145
Procedure 2nd Rpt 1991-92, 1st Rpt 1992-93. Back
146
Procedure 1st Rpt 1969-70. Back
147
Procedure 2nd Rpt 2006-07. Back
148
Procedure 1st Rpt 1969-70. Back
149
Procedure 2nd Rpt 1988-89. Back
150
Procedure 1st Rpt 1964-65, 1st Rpt 1969-70. Back
151
Procedure 1st Rpt 1974-75. Back
152
SO 7. Back
153
Procedure 5th Rpt 1971-72. Back
154
Procedure 1st Rpt 1960-61, 6th Rpt 1970-71. Back