Minutes of Proceedings

1.00pm  The meeting opened in public session.

1. Apologies

None.

2. Draft Minutes of the meeting held on 23 October 2012

Agreed: Members agreed the draft minutes of the meeting held on 23 October 2012.

3. Amending Bills after Further Consideration Stage

The Committee noted the advice contained in a further briefing paper from the

Bill Office on amending Bills after Further Consideration Stage.

1.02pm  Mr Lyttle joined the meeting.

1.02pm  Mr Storey joined the meeting.

4. Review of Forward Work Programme

The Committee was content with the Forward Work Programme.

5. Correspondence

The Committee considered a letter from the Speaker in relation to Standing Order 32(2) which relates to Reasoned Amendments to Bills. The letter asks the Committee to consider whether Standing Orders should be amended to state a period during which a Bill that has been rejected at Second Stage cannot be reintroduced.

Agreed: It was agreed that research into the practice in other legislatures should be provided for consideration at the meeting scheduled for 22 January 2013.

6. Inquiry into Topical Questions – draft report

1.05pm  The meeting moved into closed session.

The Committee considered a first draft report on its inquiry into Topical Questions.

1.25pm  Lord Morrow left the meeting.

Agreed: A number of items within the draft report were still to be discussed and the Committee therefore agreed to consider these at the next meeting scheduled for 22 January 2013.

7. Any other Business

Mr Allister requested that a briefing paper be provided to the Committee in relation to the procedures set out in Standing Order 60, which relates to the establishment of an ad hoc committee on conformity with equality requirements. 

Agreed: The Committee agreed that a briefing paper should be provided on this issue.

8. Date, time and place of next meeting

It was agreed that the next meeting of the Committee would take place on 22 January 2013 at 1.00pm in Room 144, Parliament Buildings.

1.57pm  The Chairperson adjourned the meeting.

Gerry Kelly
Chairperson, Committee on Procedures
22 January 2013