HOUSE OF LORDS - United Kingdom Parliament

in close accord with the Chairman of Ways and Means, is deposited in
the office of the Clerk of the Parliaments with a copy of the provisions
proposed to be added. The petition is referred to the Examiners, and
may not proceed unless any standing orders applicable have been
complied with or dispensed with. A petition for additional provision may
not be presented in the case of a bill brought from the Commons. 1
Second reading
9.25 The second reading of a private bill is usually taken before public
business and is usually brief. It does not, as in the case of public bills,
affirm the principle of the bill, which may therefore be called in question
before a committee, or at a later stage. The second reading is normally
moved by the Chairman of Committees, and provides an opportunity for
him to direct the attention of the House to any special circumstances
connected with the bill. 2
9.26 A member of the Lords who intends to debate the second
reading of a bill is expected to notify the Chairman of Committees, the
Public and Private Bill Office or the Government Whips’ Office; a
member who intends to oppose it should always do so. The Chairman of
Committees then usually asks the promoters to arrange for someone
other than himself to move the second reading, and he may enter it at a
lower place on the order paper.
9.27 The second reading of a bill originating in the House of Lords may
not be taken earlier than the second sitting day after first reading 3 and it
is customary to wait until the petitioning period has expired before taking
second reading.
9.28 Lords bills affected by the standing orders originally devised by
Lord Wharncliffe, which govern the consents of proprietors, members
and directors of companies, 4 are referred again to the Examiners after
1 PBSO 74.
2 PBSO 91.
3 PBSO 99.
4 These are often referred to as the “Wharncliffe Orders”.
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