Before we proceed to Notices of Motion, I wish to make an announcement. Hon members, yesterday the hon Kalyan raised the matter of the inclusion of the Transport Laws and Related Matters Amendment Bill in the proceedings of Thursday.
I thought that I should clarify the issue. As she has stated, her request stemmed from what transpired at the meeting of the Programming Committee last Thursday, when there was insufficient time to fully consider the programme for this week, as well as the fact that the Portfolio Committee on Transport still had to finalise its consideration of and report on the Bill.
On the programme that was sent to members of the Programming Committee on Friday afternoon, the Transport Laws and Related Matters Bill had been added for consideration on Thursday 22 November. This item was added, following a formal request from the Leader of Government Business, hon Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe. In a letter, dated 13 November 2012, he requested the fast-tracking of the Transport Laws and Related Matters Amendment Bill, and provided sufficient reasons for the request, as required by Joint Rule 216.
Parliament is the legislative authority in the national sphere of government and therefore we always attempt to assist the executive if it asks for legislation to be dealt with urgently. Such a request will, of course, always be acceded to with the understanding that it will not require us to compromise on the processes designed to ensure that we produce quality legislation.
To fast-track a Bill means that any step in the legislative process may be shortened and Rules that could impede the prompt passage of a Bill may be suspended, subject to the approval of the Houses.
After consultation, it was felt that it would not be necessary formally to fast-track the Bill. This was because the committee could complete its work on the Bill in time for its Second Reading in the National Assembly and for its consideration by the National Council of Provinces. The Bill was thus prioritised.
As for the placing of the Bill on the programme for debate tomorrow, I have to point out that members of the Programming Committee, which includes the hon Kalyan, were alerted as early as 18 October 2012 that they could expect a number of Bills before the House in the last week of sittings. In the Programming Committee, specific mention was made of the Transport Bill and the Transport Committee, which has to prioritise the programme.
They were also advised in the meeting that, where applicable, the three-day Rule would have to be suspended to allow for the Bills to be passed on the last sitting day. There was no objection to this in the meeting. The House has an obligation to consider legislation finalised by its committees as promptly as possible. This would also show consideration for our colleagues in the National Council of Provinces, if a Bill still has to go to that House for concurrence. For the reasons outlined above, including the tacit agreement of the Programming Committee, the Transport Laws and Related Matters Amendment Bill was placed on the programme last week, and is, therefore, being included in tomorrow's order of business.