Sittings in Westminster Hall (E-Petitions)
General Matters
6:41 pm

John Bercow (Speaker)

I inform the House that I have selected amendment (a).

Greg Knight (East Yorkshire, Conservative)

I beg to move,

That the following changes be made to Standing Order No.10 (Sittings in Westminster Hall) until the end of the next session of Parliament:

(1) In Standing Order No. 10 (Sittings in Westminster Hall):

(a) in line 3, at the end, add the following new sub-paragraph—

‘(za) on Mondays beginning at half-past four o’clock and continuing for up to three hours, if the Backbench Business Committee has reported its determination that a sitting in Westminster Hall to consider an e-petition or e-petitions should take place on that day;’.

(b) in line 28, at the end, add the following new paragraph—

‘(3B) (a) The business taken at a Monday sitting in Westminster Hall shall be the e-petition or e-petitions which the Backbench Business Committee has determined should be debated, and each such e-petition shall be debated on the motion, That this House has considered the e-petition from [petitioners] relating to [subject of petition].

(b) Paragraph (10) of this Order shall not apply to proceedings under sub-paragraph (a) of this paragraph; no dilatory motion may be made in relation to proceedings under that sub-paragraph except by a Minister of the Crown; and the question on any such dilatory motion shall be put forthwith.’

(2) In Standing Order No. 14 (Arrangement of public business), line 50, at the end, add:

‘(3AA) In addition to those days allotted under paragraph (3A) of this order, the Backbench Business Committee may determine that a sitting in Westminster Hall may be held on a Monday in accordance with paragraph (3) (za) of Standing Order No. 10 to consider e-petitions.’

(3) In Standing Order No. 152J (Backbench Business Committee), leave out from ‘with’ in line 39 to ‘of’ in line 40 and insert ‘paragraphs (3A) and (3B)’.—(Mr Knight.)

If the signatories to the amendment do not delay matters further, I am happy to accept it.

Amendment made, in line 2, to leave out ‘the next’ and insert ‘this’.—(Mr Bone.)

Main Question, as amended, put and agreed to.

Ordered, That the following changes be made to standing orders, until the end of this session of Parliament—

(1) In Standing Order No. 10 (Sittings in Westminster Hall):

(a) in line 3, at the end, add the following new sub-paragraph—

‘(za) on Mondays beginning at half-past four o’clock and continuing for up to three hours, if the Backbench Business Committee has reported its determination that a sitting in Westminster Hall to consider an e-petition or e-petitions should take place on that day;’.

(b) in line 28, at the end, add the following new paragraph—

‘(3B) (a) The business taken at a Monday sitting in Westminster Hall shall be the e-petition or e-petitions which the

Backbench Business Committee has determined should be debated, and each such e-petition shall be debated on the motion, That this House has considered the e-petition from [petitioners] relating to [subject of petition].

(b) Paragraph (10) of this Order shall not apply to proceedings under sub-paragraph (a) of this paragraph; no dilatory motion may be made in relation to proceedings under that sub-paragraph except by a Minister of the Crown; and the question on any such dilatory motion shall be put forthwith.’

(2) In Standing Order No. 14 (Arrangement of public business), line 50, at the end, add:

‘(3AA) In addition to those days allotted under paragraph (3A) of this order, the Backbench Business Committee may determine that a sitting in Westminster Hall may be held on a Monday in accordance with paragraph (3) (za) of Standing Order No. 10 to consider e-petitions.’

(3) In Standing Order No. 152J (Backbench Business Committee), leave out from ‘with’ in line 39 to ‘of’ in line 40 and insert ‘paragraphs (3A) and (3B)’.

John Bercow (Speaker)

May I reciprocate the great courtesy shown by the Deputy Leader of the House? I wish him and all Members of the House an extremely relaxing and restorative summer recess.