– in the House of Commons at 3:31 pm on 23 April 1987.
Mr Bernard Weatherill
, Croydon North East
3:31,
23 April 1987
With the leave of the House, I will put together the nine motions relating to statutory instruments.
Ordered,
That the Milk (Community Outgoers' Scheme) (Scotland) Amendment Regulations (S.I., 1987, No. 425) be referred to a Standing Committee on Statutory Instruments, &c.
That the draft Definition of Capital Expenses (Scotland) Order 1987 be referred to a Standing Committee on Statutory Instruments, &c.
That the draft Occupiers' Liability (Northern Ireland) Order 1987 be referred to a Standing Committee on Statutory Instruments, &c.
That the draft Limitation (Amendment) (Northern Ireland) Order 1987 be referred to a Standing Committee on Statutory Instruments, &c.
That the draft Enduring Powers of Attorney (Northern Ireland) Order 1987 be referred to a Standing Committee on Statutory Instruments, &c.
That the draft Enduring Powers of Attorney (Northern Ireland Consequential Amendment) Order 1987 be referred to a Standing Committee on Statutory Instruments, &c.
That the Home Grown Cereals Authority Levy Scheme (Approval) Order 1987 (S.I., 1987, No. 671) be referred to a Standing Committee on Statutory Instruments, &c.
That the Tyne and Wear Development Corporation (Area and Constitution) Order 1987 be referred to a Standing Committee on Statutory Instruments, &c.
That the New Valuation Lists Order 1987 be referred to a Standing Committee on Statutory Instruments, &c. — [Mr. Neubert.]
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.
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.
