COMMIITEE OF PRIVILEGES (Amendment of Standing Orders)

4.52 p.m.

7nbsp; The Deputy Prime Minister (Dr Toh Chin Chye): Mr Speaker, I beg to move,

That Standing Order No. 93 be amended by adding at the end of paragraph (6) thereof the following paragraph:-

'Committee of Privileges

(7) (a) There shall be a Committee to be known as the Committee of Privileges to consist of the Speaker as Chairman and seven Members to be nominated by the Committee of Selection, as soon as may be after its appointment, in such manner as shall ensure that, so far as is possible, the balance between the Government benches and the Opposition benches in the Assembly is reflected in the Committee. There shall be referred to this Committee any complaint of breach of privilege or any matter which appears to affect the powers and privileges of the Assembly. It shall be the duty of the Committee to consider any such matters to them referred, and to report on them to the Assembly.

(b) Whenever the Assembly is not sitting a Member may bring an alleged breach of privilege to the notice of Mr Speaker who may, if he is satisfied that a prima facie breach of privilege has been committed, refer such matter to the Committee which shall report thereon to the Assembly.'.

Mr Speaker: Hon. Members are no doubt aware of sub-paragraph (b) of paragraph (4) of Standing Order No. 93 which reads:

`If a notice of motion involves any proposal for the amendment of Standing Orders, the notice shall be accompanied by a draft of the proposed amendments and the motion when proposed shall stand referred without any question being proposed thereon to the Standing Orders Committee and no further proceedings shall be taken on any such motion until the Standing Orders Committee has reported thereon.'

Accordingly, in accordance with that sub-paragraph, the motion now stands referred to the Standing Orders Committee.