I move:
That the amendments to Standing Orders relative to Public Business recommended in the Report of the Committee on Procedure and Privileges (T. 273) dated the 11th December, 1985 be adopted.
This motion refers to a report of the Committee on Procedure and Privileges which has been printed and circulated to Members. The effect of the adoption of this report would be to amend our standing orders in such a way that it places an obligation on any Minister introducing a Government Bill to provide an explanatory and financial memorandum which makes absolutely clear what are the charges arising from this particular legislation and also what are the standing implications. We should agree to this because in this way there will be more information in the hands of Members, who will be better able to carry out their duties as legislators with this information before them. I might indicate that this applies to Government Bills only. In respect of Bills introduced in this House by a Private Member, there is no corresponding obligation, so that in the adoption of this change in Standing Orders Members will gain a good deal and lose nothing.