HOUSE OF LORDS - United Kingdom Parliament

10.48 Memorials 1 stating technical objections to petitions may be
deposited in the office of the Clerk of the Parliaments within seven days
beginning with the day on which the petition was presented.
10.49 After the petitioning period has expired, the Chairman of
Committees and the Chairman of Ways and Means in the House of
Commons consider all petitions and report to both Houses. If a petition
complies with the Act and standing orders, they certify that it is proper to
be received and whether it is a petition for amendment or a petition of
general objection. If a petition for amendment 2 involves amendments
which would alter the scope of the order or affect the interests of
persons other than the petitioner, the Chairmen may make a special
report to that effect. If a petition for amendment involves amendments
“which would constitute a negative of the main purpose of the order”,
the Chairmen certify it as a petition of general objection. But if only some
of the amendments would defeat the main purpose of the order, the
Chairmen may delete those amendments and certify the rest of the
petition as a petition for amendment. In certain cases the Chairmen may
find it necessary to hear the parties.
10.50 Within 14 days, 3 beginning with the day on which the Chairmen’s
report is laid before Parliament, counter-petitions may be presented
against petitions for amendment.
Resolution for annulment
10.51 If either House within 21 days 4 beginning with the day on which
the Chairmen’s report on an order is laid before it (the “resolution
period”) resolves that the order be annulled, the order lapses. In
reckoning the resolution period, time during which Parliament is dissolved
or prorogued, or both Houses are adjourned for more than four days, is
not counted.
10.52 If there is an equality of votes on a resolution for annulment, the
resolution is defeated and the order proceeds.
1 PBSO 207.
2 PBSO 207A.
3 PBSO 210.
4 s. 4.
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