HOUSE OF LORDS - United Kingdom Parliament

Special report
9.45 In certain circumstances, when it is thought that the House should
be informed of the findings of a committee, and its reasons for reaching
them, a special report is made and printed. It is usual, for instance, to
make a special report in response to an instruction. An order for the
special report to be considered can be made, to allow the House to
debate and review the decisions of the committee; but third reading
provides the normal opportunity for such a debate.
Unopposed bill committees
9.46 Each unopposed bill committee normally consists of the Chairman
of Committees assisted by his Counsel. 1 The Chairman of Committees
may select further members from the panel of Deputy Chairmen. 2 No
member who is not a member of the committee may take any part in
the proceedings. The promoters may be represented by their agents
(rather than by counsel) and may call witnesses; evidence called is not
tendered on oath. Representatives of the government departments which
have reported on the bill attend and may be questioned by the
committee. 3
9.47 The promoter’s agent is called upon to justify any clauses on which
the Chairman of Committees has asked for further information or which
are the subject of a departmental report. The committee may then
amend the bill as it thinks fit.
9.48 When the committee is prepared to accept the bill, witnesses are
called, on oath, to prove the preamble to the bill and to produce copies
of any Private Acts, and the originals of any documents, referred to in the
preamble.
Report
9.49 The proceedings of committees on both unopposed and opposed
bills are concluded by an entry in the Minutes of Proceedings reporting
the bill from the committee. Amendments made in committee are
available for inspection in the Private Bill Office; the bill as amended must
1 PBSO 121.
2 PBSO 121, 122.
3 PBSO 127.
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