4 Proceedings consequent upon report as to petitions.
1
If either House, within the period of F1twenty-one days beginning with the date on which the report of the Chairmen relating to any order to which this Act applies is laid before it, resolves that the order be annulled, the order shall thereupon become void and no further proceedings shall be taken thereon, but without prejudice to the laying before Parliament of a new order:
. . . F2
In reckoning the said period of F1twenty-one days, no account shall be taken of any time during which Parliament is dissolved or prorogued, or during which both Houses are adjourned for more than four days.
2
If within the period mentioned in the foregoing subsection (hereinafter referred to as “the resolution period”) no resolution that the order be annulled has been passed, then, subject as hereinafter provided, any petitions certified by the Chairmen as proper to be received shall stand referred to a joint committee of both Houses:
Provided that where any petition so certified has been certified as a petition of general objection F3that petition shall not stand so referred if either House has resolved within the resolution period that the petition be not so referred.
3
If during the resolution period neither House has resolved that the order be annulled, and no petitions relating to the order stand referred to the joint committee under this section, the order shall come into operation at the expiration of that period, or on such later date, if any, as may be specified in the order.