SELECT COMMITTEE ON STANDING ORDERS (FIRST REPORT)

Mr T. M. Hart: Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move,

That the First Report of the Select Committee on Standing Orders, as contained in Sessional Paper No. L.A. 13 of 1955, be adopted; and that the following amendments be made to the Standing Orders -

(i) Standing Order 61, new paragraph (6):

Add new paragraph (6) as follows -

"(6) There shall be a Committee to be known as the Estimates Committee to consist of a Chairman to be appointed by the Speaker and not more than five Members to be nominated by the Committee of Selection, as soon as may be after the beginning of each Session, in such manner as shall ensure that so far as is possible the balance between the Government and the Opposition in the Assembly is reflected in the Committee. It shall be the duty of the Committee to examine any of the Estimates contained in the Schedules of Appropriation Bills and financial motions, to suggest the form in which Estimates might be presented, and to report what economies consistent with the policy implied in the Estimates might be effected."

(ii) Standing Order 69 (1), lines 3 and 4:

Leave out "on all the services of the Government" and insert "out of the revenues and other funds of the Colony".

(iii) Standing Order 69 (2), line 3:

After "seven" insert "clear".

(iv) Standing Order 69 (2), line 6:

After "Speaker" insert "or Member presiding".

(v) Standing Order 69 (11), line 1:

Leave out "the" and insert "any".

(vi) Standing Order 69 (11), lines 1 and 2:

Leave out from "question" to "debate" and insert "in the Committee of Supply".

(vii) New Standing Order 69A:

Add new Standing Order as follows -

"69A.- (l) Whenever supplementary financial requirements for expenditure out of the revenues and other funds of the Colony become necessary, there shall be introduced into the Assembly a motion: "That this Assembly resolves that the sum of $... shall be supplied to the Government under the heads of expenditure and for the services specified in the Schedule contained in Sessional Paper No ...". At least five clear days' notice shall be given of the introduction of such motion.

(2) Upon the motion being proposed and seconded, the same shall stand committed to the Committee of Supply to which the Schedule shall then also stand referred.

(3) The Assembly shall thereupon, without any question being proposed, resolve itself into Committee and paragraphs (6) to (11) inclusive of Standing Order 69 shall apply to the consideration of the Schedule.

(4) The Schedule to the Motion shall be dealt with before the Motion.

(5) At the conclusion of the consideration of the motion and the Schedule in Committee, the Assembly shall resume and the Member in charge shall forthwith report that the motion and the Schedule have been considered in Committee and agreed to (with amendments). Thereupon the question on the motion (with amendments) shall be put and decided without amendment or debate."

(viii) Standing Order 70:

Leave out Standing Order 70 and insert new Standing Order as follows -

"70.- (l) As soon as possible after the end of each financial year there shall be introduced into the Assembly a final Appropriation (No. 2) Bill which shall include such supplementary financial requirements as may have been agreed for the previous year in accordance with Standing Order 69A.

(2) The debate on the motion for the second reading of the Bill shall be confined to the general principles of Government policy and administration as indicated in the Bill and Schedules.

(3) When the Bill has been read a second time, a motion for the third reading shall thereupon be made by a Minister. Such motion shall not be required to be seconded and shall be decided without amendment or debate."

A Select Committee was appointed under Standing Order No. 63 for the purpose of considering amendments to Standing Orders. It devoted its attention, in the first instance, to the Standing Orders dealing with financial procedure. The Report, which has been in the hands of hon. Members for some months, is the result of its deliberations. The Standing Orders concerning financial procedure, as originally drafted, are not in all respects suited to the procedure for obtaining supplementary provision which has been adopted for use in the Assembly. For example, no provision is made for consideration of financial motions in Committee of Supply, which is an essential feature of the House of Commons procedure. No specific provision is made for a Final Supply Bill covering all money motions which have been debated in Committee and passed by the Assembly. Reference is made to Supplementary Supply Bills which are unnecessary if additional funds are obtained by motions and a Final Supply Bill.

New Standing Order 69A provides for the consideration of money motions in the Committee of Supply and new Standing Order 70 provides for a Final Supply Bill. The reference to Supplementary Supply Bills has been deleted.

Other amendments to which attention should be invited are as follows:

Firstly, five clear days' notice must now be given of a money motion. Hitherto, only one day's notice has been required under Standing Order 22 (3).

Secondly, provision is made for an Estimates Committee by means of new Standing Order 61 (6). This again follows the House of Commons procedure. The functions of this Committee will be to examine any of the estimates contained in the Schedules of Appropriation Bills and financial motions, to suggest the form in which the estimates might be presented, and to report what economies consistent with the policy outlined in the Estimates might be effected.

There are one or two other minor amendments. These are explained in the Appendices to the Report which Members have in their hands.

Sir, I beg to move.

Mr Seah Peng Chuan: I second the motion.

Question proposed.

Mr Nair: Mr Speaker, Sir, as regards Standing Order 61, new paragraph (6):

"The Estimates Committee to consist of a Chairman to be appointed by the Speaker and not more than five Members",

I think this number is too small. The Estimates Committee deals with very important matters and I consider that there should be at least seven or nine Members on this Committee. I would prefer nine. There may be many matters which need the Committee's consideration and I do not know how five Members can conveniently reflect the position of the Parties, or their views in this Assembly. I am not, for a moment, asking for representations for Independents; nevertheless, I feel that five Members are not enough. If I am satisfied with the explanation why the number is fixed at five, I may not move any amendment, but if I consider that the explanation is not satisfactory, I might move an amendment even though I may not get a seconder.

Mr Speaker: Perhaps the hon. Member is anticipating an opportunity of speaking again. If he wishes to make an amendment, he can propose an amendment now, and then a debate can take place on it.

Mr Nair: Mr Speaker, Sir, I think I had better have a try at it. I move an amendment to Standing Order 61, new paragraph (6),

To leave out the word "five" in line 3, and insert the word "seven".

Amendment handed in.

Mr Speaker: May I have a seconder? No seconder? The amendment falls. If no Member wishes to speak, I will put the Question.

Question put, and agreed to.

Resolved,

That the First Report of the Select Committee on Standing Orders, as contained in Sessional Paper No. L.A. 13 of 1955, be adopted; and that the following amendments be made to the Standing Orders -

(i) Standing Order 61, new paragraph (6):

Add new paragraph (6) as follows -

"(6) There shall be a Committee to be known as the Estimates Committee to consist of a Chairman to be appointed by the Speaker and not more than five Members to be nominated by the Committee of Selection, as soon as may be after the beginning of each Session, in such manner as shall ensure that so far as is possible the balance between the Government and the Opposition in the Assembly is reflected in the Committee. It shall be the duty of the Committee to examine any of the Estimates contained in the Schedules of Appropriation Bills and financial motions, to suggest the form in which Estimates might be presented, and to report what economies consistent with the policy implied in the Estimates might be effected."

(ii) Standing Order 69 (1), lines 3 and 4:

Leave out "on all the services of the Government" and insert "out of the revenues and other funds of the Colony".

(iii) Standing Order 69 (2), line 3:

After "seven" insert "clear".

(iv) Standing Order 69 (2), line 6:

After "Speaker" insert "or Member presiding".

(v) Standing Order 69 (11), line 1:

Leave out "the" and insert "any".

(vi) Standing Order 69 (11), lines 1 and 2:

Leave out from "question" to "debate" and insert Committee of Supply".

(vii) New Standing Order 69A:

Add new Standing Order as follows -

"69A.- (1) Whenever supplementary financial requirements for expenditure out of the revenues and other funds of the Colony become necessary, there shall be introduced into the Assembly a motion: "That this Assembly resolves that the sum of $... shall be supplied to the Government under the heads of expenditure and for the services specified in the Schedule contained in Sessional Paper No ...". At least five clear days' notice shall be given of the introduction of such motion.

(2) Upon the motion being proposed and seconded, the same shall stand committed to the Committee of Supply to which the Schedule shall then also stand referred.

(3)The Assembly shall thereupon, without any question being proposed, resolve itself into Committee and paragraphs (6) to (11) inclusive of Standing Order 69 shall apply to the consideration of the Schedule.

(4) The Schedule to the Motion shall be dealt with before the Motion.

(5) At the conclusion of the consideration of the motion and the Schedule in Committee, the Assembly shall resume and the Member in charge shall forthwith report that the motion and the Schedule have been considered in Committee and agreed to (with amendments). Thereupon the question on the motion (with amendments) shall be put and decided without amendment or debate."

(viii) Standing Order 70:

Leave out Standing Order 70 and insert new Standing Order as follows -

"70.- (l) As soon as possible after the end of each financial year there shall be introduced into the Assembly a final Appropriation (No. 2) Bill which shall include such supplementary financial requirements as may have been agreed for the previous year in accordance with Standing Order 69A.

(2) The debate on the motion for the second reading of the Bill shall be confined to the general principles of Government policy and administration as indicated in the Bill and Schedules.

(3) When the Bill has been read a second time, a motion for the third reading shall thereupon be made by a Minister. Such motion shall not be required to be seconded and shall be decided without amendment or debate."