Local Government Bill [HL] — Motion to refer to the Examiners — 8 Jun 2010 at 15:37
The House of Lords agreed that the Local Government Bill ought be assessed by professional staff to determine if it ought be treated as a Government (public) bill or as a "hybrid" bill as it progresses through Parliament.
The text of the motion agreed to was: "That the [Local Government] Bill ought be referred to the examiners."
The Examiners, are the Clerks of Private Bills in both Houses.[1]
A definition of a hybrid bill was given in the debate preceding the division:
"A hybrid bill is defined as 'a public bill which affects a particular private interest in a manner different from the private interests of other persons or bodies of the same category or class'".
As specific councils were named in the bill and treated differently to others; an argument was made that this could result in the bill being considered a hybrid.
The decision of the examiners will affect the bill's future passage through Parliament
The Lords divided Contents 154; Not-Contents 150, with the Contents being in favour of referring the bill to the examiners for an expert opinion as to its status.
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