ANNEX B – Revised Standing Orders reflecting changes proposed

STANDING ORDER 25 – Orders in Council to be made under section 109 of the Act

Proposals for an Order by a Member, other than a member of the Government

25.26          Any Member, other than a member of the government, may table a motion calling on the government to introduce a proposed Order under Section 109 of the Act.   

25.27 At the same time that a Member tables a motion under 25.27, he or she must also table an explanatory memorandum which must provide the following information:

i)   the impact the proposal for an Order would have on the Assembly’s legislative competence;

ii)  an explanation of why the Member considers the  Order to be necessary;

iii) details of any support received for the proposal, including details of any consultation carried out.

25.28  If a motion tabled under Standing Order 25.27 has the support of at least ten Members who together belong to at least three different political groups, the Business Committee must refer the motion and explanatory to a committee or committees for consideration,

25.29 Where a motion under Standing Order 25.27 is referred to a committee or committees for consideration in accordance with Standing Order 25.29, the Business Committee must establish and publish a timetable for the committee or committees to consider and report on it.

25.30 Time must be made available for a motion referred to a committee or committees under Standing Order 25.29 to be debated, and such a motion cannot be moved until either:

(i)       the committee or committees have reported in accordance with Standing Order 22.59; or

(ii)      the deadline by which the committee or committees are required to report in accordance with Standing Order 25.30 has been reached.

25.31           No amendment to a motion under Standing Order 25.27 may be tabled if it would not be clear from a resolution of the Assembly approving the motion as amended by such an amendment how the Assembly wished to see its legislative competence altered.

25.32 If a motion under Standing Order 25.27 is disagreed to, then no Member table a motion under Standing Order 25.27 for a period of six months after the motion has been disagreed to if, in the opinion of the Presiding Officer, the motion seeks to confer the same, or substantially the same, legislative competence.

STANDING ORDER 24 – Definition of Member in Charge of Legislation

Member Bills

24.14 Bills, which are neither government Bills, committee Bills nor Commission Bills, are referred to as “Member Bills”.

24.15          The Member in charge of a Member Bill is:

(i)       the Member who has had agreement to introduce a Bill under Standing Orders 26.91;

(ii)      another Member authorised by the Member under Standing Order 24.15(i), by means of a statement to that effect laid by that Member; or

(iii)     if no such authorisation is made, any Member authorised by the Assembly.

24.16 A Member may transfer a Bill to a member of the government authorised by the First Minister, by means of a statement to that effect laid by that Member.

24.17          When a Member transfers a Bill to a member of the government (in accordance with Standing Order 24.16), that Bill is to be regarded, from then on, as a government Bill.

SO 26 – Acts of the Assembly

26.86 Where a Member tabled a motion under Standing Order 25.27 which led to an Order in Council made by Her Majesty under section 109 of the Act, that Member may introduce a Bill relating to that Order within nine months of the Order coming into force. This does not affect a Member’s right to enter a ballot held under Standing Order 26.87.