Routine Proceedings / Motions

Committee report; amendment

Journals pp. 286-7

Debates pp. 3392-3

Background

On the motion for concurrence in the first report of the Special Committee on Trends in Food Prices, Mr. Lawrence (Northumberland-Durham) proposed an amendment to refer the report back to committee with an instruction. The amendment urged the committee to recommend to the Government that the committee's order of reference be widened and that a 90-day freeze on incomes, costs and prices be considered. The Speaker questioned the acceptability of the amendment and called for comments from Members. However, as the hour at which the House had agreed to vote on the motion of concurrence was approaching, no Member rose to speak on the matter. Consequently, the Speaker gave his ruling immediately.

Issue

Is an amendment to the motion for concurrence in a report acceptable if it proposes a change to the committee's order of reference?

Decision

No. The amendment may not be put.

Reasons given by the Speaker

The proposed amendment suggests that the committee report not be concurred in but that the committee be instructed to consider a number of alternative policies that were not referred to in the original terms of reference given to the committee. This proposal is an entirely new question and cannot be considered as an amendment.

References

Debates, April 17, 1973, pp. 3388-92.