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{
    "id": 1203119,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1203119/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 36,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Hon. Speaker",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "Hon. Members, as you are aware, today is the First Sitting of the House following the Official Opening of the 13th Parliament last week. By practice, the first business of the House at the beginning of each Session is the formation of the House Business Committee. Subsequently, the Committee, once constituted, proceeds to determine and set up the business of the House. The next set of Business that follows is the consideration and passage of the several Procedural Motions under Standing Order No.97 relating to limitation of time during debates in the House. Thereafter, with respect to the first Sitting following a general election, the House debates the President’s Address as contemplated under Standing Order No.24 (6). According to today’s Order Paper, the Motion for the approval of the membership of the House Business Committee is not one of the business to be transacted today. This is because a question has since arisen relating to the constitution of the Committee with respect to the names of persons under paragraphs (b), (c), (d) and (e) of Standing Order No.171 (1). To illustrate this, allow me to refer to Standing Order No.171 (1). This rule provides that the House Business Committee consists of the following: 1. the Speaker, who shall be the Chairperson; 2. the Leader of the Majority Party or a representative designated in writing; 3. the Leader of the Minority Party or a representative designated in writing; 4. the Whip of the Majority Party or a representative designated in writing; 5. the Whip of the Minority Party or a representative designated in writing; and, 6. nine other Members, who shall be nominated by parliamentary parties and approved by the House at the commencement of every Session, reflecting the relative majorities of the seats held by each of the parliamentary parties in the National Assembly and taking into consideration the interests of parties other than parliamentary parties and Independents. From what I have read, you will note that the House Business Committee consists of a total of 14 Members. It is also notable that besides the Speaker, four Members sit in the Committee by virtue of their offices. These are the Leader of the Majority Party, the Leader of the Minority Party, the Majority Party Whip and the Minority Party Whip The electronic version of the Official Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor."
}