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"content": "Having said that, I wish to bring to the attention of the House the fact that, in accordance with the Standing Orders, certain businesses that were not dispensed with at the end of the Second Session have now lapsed. This includes all motions, statements, questions and some Bills. With regards to the lapsing of Bills, I wish to draw the attention of the House to the provisions of Standing Order 141(2)(b), which provides as follows and I quote – “A Bill that has been published, read a First Time or in respect of which the Second Reading has not been concluded— (b) at the end of two consecutive Sessions of the same Parliament shall lapse at the end of the second Session and may be republished in the same or different form in accordance with Standing Order 114 (Introduction of Bills).” Consequent to the said provision, the Equalisation Fund Bill (National Assembly Bill No. 47 of 2022) sponsored by the Member for Tiaty, Hon. William Kamet, MP, lapsed. Regarding Questions, Hon. Members, I am aware that, at the end of the Second Session, 281 Questions were transmitted to cabinet secretaries. 125 Questions were responded to, leaving 156 Questions awaiting response from respective cabinet secretaries. In this regard, where a Member is still desirous of obtaining a response to the transmitted Question(s), I will permit the Leader of the Majority Party to prioritise such Questions when scheduling the appearance of cabinet secretaries before the House. Members are, therefore, advised to visit the Questions Office to formally indicate such desire by close of business on Thursday, 22nd February 2024. All other Questions that had not been transmitted to cabinet secretaries, constitutional commissions and independent offices have lapsed. However, the concerned Members are at liberty to re-file them afresh if they so wish. Having laid out the procedure for the re-introduction of lapsed business, I now direct that any committee or individual Member wishing to re-introduce any such business do so in accordance with the Standing Orders and our parliamentary practice. Hon. Members who may not be clear on the procedure are advised to visit the Table Office for assistance. As we commence this Session, it is my sincere hope that the House will build on its impressive performance in the Second Session to gain traction for an even better performance in the Third Session. I also wish to draw the attention of the House to the fact that, there are several Committees whose term lapses with the Session. These are the House Business Committee, the Committee of Powers and Privileges and the Committee on Members’ Services and Facilities. Consequently, the three Committees ought to be reconstituted. Indeed, as you have noticed in today’s Order Paper, the House is scheduled to consider a Motion under Order No.8 on the reconstitution of the House Business Committee. Once approved, the House will adjourn to allow the Committee to meet and schedule business for the remainder of the week starting from tomorrow morning. Further, I take this opportunity to urge the Committee on Selection to expedite the nomination of Members to serve in the other two remaining committees for consideration by the House. You may also recall that on 21st November 2023, I directed the Clerk to designate a suitable place in the restaurant within the Main Parliament Buildings for exclusive use by Members of Parliament. This has not only been done but, in addition, some renovation works have since been undertaken in the Members’ Restaurant and Lounge. The improvement of the facilities, which extended to the Main Chamber and other parts of the National Assembly Buildings and its courtyards, are intended to provide proper facilities to facilitate you to carry out your constitutional mandate in a suitable environment. 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"
}