F
COMMITTEE, SELECT
73
The report is presented to the House by the committee clerk handing a paper representing the report to one of the Clerks at the Table during a sitting of the House. The report is then considered to have been ordered to lie on the table and to be printed. No discussion can take place on the presentation of the report nor can a day be then appointed for considering it.
When a committee finds that it will not be able to complete the inquiry before the end of the session, it usually makes a special report to that effect, at the same time recommending that a committee should be appointed in the following session to continue the inquiry. It is usual also to report any evidence that has been taken.
A select committee sometimes wishes to make an interim report or a report on a particular branch of the subject which has been referred to its consideration. It is important to remem- ber that the presentation of a report of any kind will automatically bring the existence of the committee to a close unless it has been previously authorised or obtains leave to report from time to time". But this rule docs not apply to what is known as a special report, viz. a report made in reference to some matter relating to the powers, functions or proceedings of the committee, which has arisen incidentally, e.g. a report that a person summoned as a witness has failed to attend, refused to answer a question or produce a document, or prevaricated.
Consideration of Report. Reports of select committees are not as a rule considered by the House. The report of a committee may be brought under the consideration of the House, on motion, after notice, that the report be now considered ". If the motion is carried, any motion may be made which is relevant to the subject matter of the report or necessary to give effect to the recommendations of the committee. The motion usually made is" that this House do agree with the committee in their report ". A report of a committee cannot be amended by the House. It may, however, be recommitted, i.e. referred back to the com- mittee.
Select Committees on Public Bills. What has been said above regarding select committees on matters applies to select committees on public bills also, with such modifications as are necessarily involved in the substitution of a bill as the subject of inquiry. The bill itself is the order of reference to the committee and the deliberations (and, if the committee is authorised to take evidence, the inquiries) of the committee must be confined to the bill and relevant amendments. Evidence may be taken if the committee is empowered to send for persons, papers and records. When the evidence, if any, has been concluded, the committee goes through the bill, clause by clause, in the same way as a committee of the whole House or a standing committee does, making whatever amendments it thinks fit. The chairman has
འབད་་་