Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarm (England) Regulations 2015

Debate between Lord Hunt of Kings Heath and Baroness Harris of Richmond

Monday 7th September 2015 Grand Committee

[The Deputy Chairman of Committees]

I think that the Contents have it.

[Lord Hunt of Kings Heath]

My Lords, surely if one noble Lord says “Not content”, the statutory instrument just reverts to the main Chamber, where it is open to a substantive debate if the noble Lord puts down a Motion. That is my understanding.

[The Deputy Chairman of Committees]

That is exactly what will happen and I hope that the noble Lord is satisfied with that. As he knows, we do not vote in Grand Committee.

[Baroness O'Cathain]

For clarification, does that mean that this will go back to the Chamber?

[Lord Hunt of Kings Heath]

As far as I understand it, that is the case—I have seen this happen before—although I do not wish to pre-empt the view of the Chairman. The Grand Committee cannot approve a Motion if a noble Lord decides that he is not prepared to say “Content”. It simply reverts to the Chamber and will probably appear on the Order Paper within a short time. My understanding is that it is open for debate on the Floor of the House.

[The Deputy Chairman of Committees]

That is exactly what happens. I am grateful to the noble Lord. It will go back to the Government and they will decide when and if they take the regulations to the Floor of the House.