Sect. 1. for Provisional Order. Notices. THE PRIVATE LEGISLATION PROCEDURE (SCOTLAND) ACT, 1899. (62 & 63 Vict. c. 47.) An Act to provide for improving and extending the Procedure for obtaining Parliamentary Powers by way of Provisional Orders in matters relating to Scotland. [9th August, 1899.] BE it enacted by the Queen's most Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons, in this present Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows: Application for Provisional Order. 1.-(1.) When any public authority or any persons Application (herein-after referred to as the petitioners) desire to obtain parliamentary powers in regard to any matter affecting public or private interests in Scotland for which they are entitled to apply to Parliament by a petition for leave to bring in a Private Bill, they shall proceed by presenting a petition to the Secretary for Scotland, praying him to issue a Provisional Order in accordance with the terms of a draft Order submitted to him, or with such modifications as shall be necessary. (2.) A printed copy of the draft Order shall be deposited in the office of the Clerk of the Parliaments and in the Private Bill Office of the House of Commons, and also at the office of the Treasury and of such other public departments as shall be prescribed at such time as shall be prescribed (a). (3.) Before presenting a petition under the provisions of this Act, the petitioners shall make such deposits and give such notice by public advertisement, and, where land is proposed to be taken, by such service on owners, lessees, and occupiers, as shall be prescribed as sufficient for procedure by way of Provisional Order under this Act (b). (a) General Orders 32, 33. (6) General Orders 3 to 38. Sect. 1. Chairmen dure should Bill. 2. (1.) The Chairman of Committees of the House Report by of Lords and the Chairman of Ways and Means in that procethe House of Commons (in this Act referred to as the be by Private Chairmen), shall, if the two Houses of Parliament think fit so to order, determine all matters of practice and procedure which will enable them to take into consideration the draft Order, and to report thereon to the Secretary for Scotland: Provided that with a view to such report the Secretary for Scotland shall forthwith inform the Chairmen of any dissents from or objections to any of the provisions of the Order which have been stated in the prescribed manner and within the prescribed time (c). (2.) If it appears from the report of the Chairmen that either of the Chairmen is of opinion that the provisions or some provisions of the draft Order do not relate wholly or mainly to Scotland, or are of such a character or magnitude, or raise any such question of policy or principle, that they ought to be dealt with by Private Bill and not by Provisional Order, the Secretary for Scotland shall, without further inquiry, refuse to issue the Provisional Order, so far as the same is objected to by the Chairmen or Chairman (cc). (3.) A copy of every such report shall as soon as possible be laid before both Houses of Parliament. Sect. 2. When inquiry by Commissioners to be directed. (4.) If the Secretary for Scotland shall refuse to issue the Provisional Order or part thereof in pursuance of the provisions of this section, the notices published and served and the deposits made for the proposed Provisional Order shall, subject to Standing Orders, be held to have been published and served and made for a Private Bill applying for similar powers: Provided that the petitioners shall, by notice served in the prescribed manner and within the prescribed time, inform all opponents of their intention to proceed by way of Private Bill (d), and, subject to Standing Orders, the petition for the Provisional Order shall be deemed and taken to be the petition for leave to bring in a Private Bill, and the petitioners shall also give such additional notices (if any) as shall be required by Standing Orders (dd). (c) See 39 S. L. R. 868, for such a report. (d) See General Order 3. (dd) See the Standing Orders, post, p. 414. Appointment of and Inquiry by Commissioners. 3.—(1.) If the Chairmen report that the Provisional Order may proceed, or if a report against a part only of the Order is made by the Chairmen, or either of them, upon due proof to the satisfaction of the examiner of compliance with the general orders herein-after mentioned, the Secretary for Scotland shall take the petition for a Provisional Order into consideration, and subject to the report against any part of the Order (if any), shall, if there is opposition, or in any case in which he thinks inquiry necessary, direct an inquiry as to the propriety of assenting to the prayer of the petition, subject as aforesaid, to be held by Commissioners from time to time appointed in terms of this Act. (2.) Provided that if the examiner under this Act shall find that the general orders have not been complied with, the petitioners may, in the prescribed manner and within the prescribed time, apply to the Chairmen to dispense with any general order which has not been complied with, and the decision of the Chairmen shall be final; provided that if any conditions are attached to any dispensation with compliance with any general order, the Provisional Order shall not be proceeded with until the examiner shall have reported that such conditions have been satisfied. Sect. 3. of extra 4.-(1.) On or before the first day of January next Formation after the commencement of this Act there shall be parliamentary formed a panel of persons (herein-after referred to as panel. the extra-parliamentary panel) qualified by experience of affairs to act as Commissioners under this Act. (2.) The extra-parliamentary panel shall be formed in manner following; that is to say, (a.) The Chairmen, acting jointly with the Secretary for Scotland, shall nominate twenty persons qualified as aforesaid, and the persons so nominated shall constitute the extra-parliamentary panel and shall remain thereon until the expiration of five years. Any casual vacancy on the panel caused by death or resignation shall be filled up by the Chairmen acting jointly with the Secretary for Scotland. (b.) At the expiration of every period of five years, the extra-parliamentary panel shall be re-formed in like manner and with the like incidents. of Commis 5.-1.) When it is determined that Commissioners Formation of parliamentary shall be appointed for the purpose of inquiring as to panels. the propriety of making and issuing a Provisional Appointment Order or Orders under this Act, the Chairmen shall sioners. appoint four Commissioners for that purpose, and shall at the same time nominate one of the Commissioners as Chairman. (2.) Standing Orders may, if the two Houses of Parliament think fit so to order, provide for the formation of panels of members of the two Houses respec Sect. 5. tively to act as Commissioners under this Act (hereinafter referred to as the parliamentary panels). (3.) Subject to Standing Orders as aforesaid, two of the Commissioners shall be taken from the parlia mentary panel of members of the House of Lords, and two shall be taken from the parliamentary panel of members of the House of Commons. (4.) Subject to Standing Orders as aforesaid, if the Chairmen shall be unable to appoint Commissioners as in the immediately preceding subsection mentioned, three, or if need be all of the Commissioners, may be members of the same parliamentary panel. (5.) Subject to Standing Orders as aforesaid, if the Chairmen shall be unable to appoint Commissioners as in either of the two immediately preceding subsections mentioned, so many persons as are required to make up the number of Commissioners shall be taken by the Secretary for Scotland from the extra-parliamentary panel herein-before mentioned. (6.) Any casual vacancy among the Commissioners, or in the office of Chairman of Commissioners caused by death or resignation, or inability to give attendance, such resignation or inability to attend being certified by a writing under the Commissioner's hand, may be filled up by the Secretary for Scotland by appointing a member of any of the panels. (7.) Notwithstanding a dissolution of Parliament, any member of either House of Parliament may continue to act as Commissioner in any inquiry for the purpose of which he has been appointed to act. (8.) The persons appointed as Commissioners shall have no personal or local interest in the matter of the proposed Order or Orders, and shall as a condition of such appointment make a declaration to that effect, provided that Scottish Members of either House of Parliament shall neither be disqualified from acting nor preferred as Commissioners to deal with proposed |