THE PARLIAMENT BILL.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXI, Issue 2, 18 August 1911, Page 7

THE PARLIAMENT BILL.

TEXT OF THE MEASURE. The following is the lull text of the Parliament Bill: Ths Preamble. Whereas it is expedient that provision should he made for regulating the relations between the tivo Houses of Pailiarnent: And whereas it is intended to substitute for the House of Lords as it at. present exists a. second chamber constituted on a popular instead of hereditary basis, but such substitution cannot be immedi-

ately brought into operation: And whereas provision will require hereafter to Ire made by Parliament in a measure effecting such substitution for limiting and denning the powers of the new second chamber, but it is expedient to make such provision as in this Act appears for restricting the existing powers of the House of Lords: Be it therefore enacted by the King’s Most ’Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons, in this present Pailiarnent assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows ; Powers of House of Lends a? to Money Bills.

I.—(1) If a money Bill, having been passed by the House of Commons, and sent up to the House of Lords at least one month before the end of the session, is not passed by the House of Lords without amendment within one month after it is so sent up to that House, the Bill shall, unless the House of Commons direct to the contrary, be presented to His Majesty and become an Act of Parliament on the Royal assent being signified, notwithstanding that the House of Lords has not consented to the Bill.

(2) A money Bill means a Bill which in tire opinion of the Speaker of tiro House of Commons contains only provisions dealing with, iill or any of the following subjccts-rrpnajnely, the imposition, repeal, remission, alteration or regulation of taxation; charges on the Consolidated Fund or the provision of money by Parliament; supply ; the appropriation, control, or regulation of public money.; the raiding or guarantee of any loan or the repayment thereof; or matters incidental to those subjects or any of them. ■ 1 • (3 ) When a Bill to iwhich the House of Lords has not consented is presented to His Majesty for assent as a money Bill, the Bill shall be accompanied by a certificate of the Speaker of the House of Commons that it is a money Bill. ( I) No amendment shall bo allowed to a money Bill which, in the opinion of the Speaker of tiic House of Commons, is such as to prevent the Bill retaining the character of a money Bill. Bills Other than, Money Bills. II.—(1) If any Bill other than a money Bill is passed by the House of Commons in tnree successive sessions (whether of the same Parliament, or not), and, having been sent up to the House of Lords' at least one month before the end of the session, is rejected by the House of Lords in each of those sessions, that Bill shiag on its rejection for the third time by the House of Lords, unless the House of Commons direct to the contrary, be presented to His Majesty, and become an Act of Parliament on the Royal assent being signified, thereto, notwithstanding that the House of Lords has not consented to the Bill: Provided that this provision shall not take effect unless two years have elapsed between the date of the first introduction of the Bill iii the House of Commons and the date on which it passes the House of Commons for the third time.

(2) A Bill shall bo deemed to be, rejected by the House of Lords if it is not passed by the House of Lords either without amendment or with such amendments only as may be agreed to by both Houses. ' (3) A Bill shall be deemed to be the same Bill as a former Bill sent up to the House of Lords in'the preceding session if, when it is sent up to the House of Lords, it is identical with the former Bill or contains only such alterations as are certified by the Speaker of the House of Commons to be necessary- owing to the time which has elapsed since l the date of the former Bill, or to represent amendments which have been made by the House of Lords in the former Bill in the preceding session. Provided that the House of Commons may, if it think fit, on the passage of such a Bill through the House in the second or third session, suggest any fin t he. amendments without inserting the amendments in the Bill, and any such suggested amendments shall ho considered by the House of Lords and if agreed to by that House -.shall lie treated as amendments made by the House of Lords and agreed to by the House of Commons ; hut the exercise of this power by tiie House of Commons shall not affect the operation of this section in tne event of the Bill being rejected by the House of Lords.

Certificate of Speaker, 111. —Any certificate of the Speakoi of the House of Commons given nuclei this Act shall ho conclusive for all purposes, and shall not ho questioned in any court of law. Rights and Pniui!fg°? cf the Commons. IV. —Nothing in this Act shall diminish or qualify the existing rights and privileges of the House of Commons. Duration of Parliament. V. —Five years shall he substituted for seven 1 years as the time fixed for the maximum duration of Parliament under the Septennial Act, 1715.