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{
    "id": 514365,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/514365/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 54,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Hon. Speaker",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "of time. With regard to consideration of Bills by Committees, hon. Members, Standing Order No.114 (3)(b) provides thus: “Upon receipt of the legislative proposal from the Clerk under paragraph (2) the Speaker shall – (b) in respect of a legislative proposal for which no committee is in charge, refer the legislative proposal to the relevant committee for pre-publication scrutiny and comments and the committee shall submit its comments on the legislative proposal to the Speaker within fourteen days of receipt of the legislative proposal” . Most committees have failed to meet this requirement in terms of undertaking the pre- publication scrutiny and in producing reports of such scrutiny within the required time. The wisdom behind the pre-legislative scrutiny is to harmonise views and reduce the number of amendments brought on a Bill during Committee of the whole House. This has, however, not worked as evidenced by the many amendments brought by committee chairpersons on Bills that were referred to them for pre-legislative scrutiny. This has been attributed to the fact that committees do not conduct pre-publication scrutiny of Bills. Committees have also failed in their duty in terms of producing reports on Bills after the First Reading, pursuant to provisions of Standing Order No. 127 (3)(4) and (5). Committees have been accused of giving preference and more attention to issues appearing in the Press particularly on procurement in Government places and other public institutions, instead of Bills and other legislative agenda. While it is within the mandate of committees to deal with issues of public interest, it should not be the main preoccupation chasing, or being seen to chase reports appearing in newspapers. I urge committees to take legislation and other business before them more seriously and report within the stipulated time frames."
}