The Standing Orders of the House of Lords         House of Lords

 
 
Committees
Chairman of Committees.
3 July 1848.
    62. The Lord nominated Chairman of Committees at the commencement of every session or, in his absence, a Deputy Chairman shall take the Chair in all Committees of the Whole House, and in all other Committees of the House, unless the House otherwise directs.
 
Committees of the Whole House.
27 March 1621.
    63. To have more freedom of debate, and that arguments may be used (pro and contra), Committees of the Whole House are appointed, sometimes for Bills, sometimes to discuss matters of great moment. Whenever the House resolves itself into a Committee, the Lord Chancellor leaves the Woolsack and the Lord Chairman of Committees presides over the Committee; Standing Order No. 28 (No Lord to speak more than once to a Motion) shall not apply when the House is in Committee.
 
Committee of Selection.
3 April 1973.
    64. - (1) At the commencement of each session the House shall appoint a Committee of Selection consisting of the Chairman of Committees and such other Lords as the House shall name.
 
      (2) The Committee of Selection shall select and propose to the House the names of the Lords to form each Select Committee of the House except the Committee of Selection itself, any Committee otherwise provided for by statute or by Order of the House and, unless the Chairman of Committees is of the opinion that the members of any such Committee should be appointed by the Committee of Selection or unless two or more members of that Committee request a meeting for that purpose, the following Committees:
 
 
    (a) Select Committees on Private Bills;
 
    (b) Select Committees on opposed Personal Bills;
 
    (c) Select Committees on opposed Provisional Order Confirmation Bills;
 
    (d) Joint Committees under the Private Legislation Procedure (Scotland) Act 1936 (Lords members);
 
    (e) Joint Committees under the Statutory Orders (Special Procedure) Act 1945 (Lords members).
      (3) The Committee of Selection may propose to the House the name of the Lord to be Chairman of a Select Committee.
 
      (4) In the absence of any Chairman appointed in pursuance of paragraph (3) of this Standing Order a Committee may appoint its own Chairman.
 
      (5) The Committee of Selection shall select and propose to the House the names of the panel of Lords to act as Deputy Chairmen of Committees for each session.
 
      (6) The Committee of Selection shall also have power to select and propose to the House the names of the Lords to form any other body, not being a Select Committee, referred to it by the Chairman of Committees.
 
      (7) The Chairman of Committees shall have discretion to propose to the House, without reference to the Committee of Selection, the names of Lords to fill casual vacancies occurring in the membership of Select Committees.
 
Sessional Committees.
10 November 1975.
    65. The orders of appointment of the following Committees and any of their Sub-Committees shall remain in force and effect, notwithstanding the prorogation of Parliament, until such time as the House or Committee makes further orders of appointment in the next succeeding session:
 
          Consolidation Bills Committee
          Constitution Committee
          Delegated Powers and Regulatory Reform Committee
          Economic Affairs Committee
          European Communities Committee
          House of Lords' Offices Committee
          Human Rights Committee
          Hybrid Instruments Committee
          Personal Bills Committee
          Committee for Privileges
          Procedure Committee
          Science and Technology Committee
          Standing Orders (Private Bills) Committee
          Statutory Instruments Committee.          
 
All Lords may attend and speak, but not vote.
27 March 1621.
    66. At a Select Committee of the House any Lord, though not of the Committee, is not excluded from coming in and speaking, but he must not attend any meeting while the Committee deliberate, unless invited by the Committee to do so, and he must not vote.
 
Power to hear Counsel.
1 June 1954.
    67. A Select Committee shall call such evidence as it may require, but shall not hear parties by Counsel unless so authorised by Order of the House.
 
Concurrent meetings.
25 July 1991.
    68. Any Select Committee of the House shall have leave to confer and meet concurrently with any Committee or Sub-Committee of the Commons appointed to consider a similar matter, for the purpose of deliberating or taking evidence, and may communicate to any such Committee or Sub-Committee its evidence or any other documents relating to matters of common interest. Any Select Committee of the House shall also have leave to give this power to confer and meet concurrently to any Sub-Committee appointed by it.
 
Reports of Select Committees.
18 May 1865.
    69. Reports from Select Committees shall be laid on the Table and ordered to be printed. Notice shall be given on the Order Paper of the day on which the report is to be considered.
 
 
previous section contents continue
 
House of Lords home page Houses of Parliament home page House of Commons home page search page enquiries

© Parliamentary copyright 2002
Revised 13 November 2002