HOUSE OF LORDS - United Kingdom Parliament

evidence from the parties and the representations of government
departments, which may include opposition to all or part of the bill. The
committee is not allowed to hear other evidence without an order of the
House. The committee may decide that the bill should be allowed to
proceed, with or without amendments, or “that it is not expedient to
proceed further with the bill”. 1
Locus standi
9.41 In general, and subject to private business SOs 115–120, a
petitioner has a right to be heard if his or her interests are specially and
directly affected by the bill. If another party challenges a petitioner’s locus
standi, the question is heard and decided by the committee at the
beginning of their proceedings. 2
Bill rejected
9.42 If the select committee rejects the bill, an entry to this effect is
made in the Minutes of Proceedings. The bill does not then proceed
further and is removed from the list of Bills in Progress in House of Lords
Business.
Recommitment
9.43 If the committee reports that the bill should be allowed to
proceed, the bill is recommitted to an unopposed bill committee, which
then considers the unopposed clauses. It may not vary any decision made
by the select committee. 3
9.44 If no petitioner appears, or if all petitions are withdrawn before
proceedings commence, or if the locus standi of all petitioners is
disallowed, then the select committee reports accordingly; the bill
becomes unopposed, and, unless there is an instruction, the Bill is
recommitted to an unopposed bill committee. 4 However, if an instruction
has been given to a select committee on a private bill, the committee
must consider the bill and instruction.
1 PBSOs 110, 127, 124.
2 PBSO 114.
3 PBSO 121.
4 PBSO 113.
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