Business of the House (Lisbon Treaty)

Part of the debate – in the House of Commons at 5:32 pm on 28 January 2008.

Alert me about debates like this

Photo of William Hague William Hague Shadow Secretary of State (Foreign Affairs) 5:32, 28 January 2008

I beg to move, in line 24, leave out from 'TABLE' to end and add—

Allotted Day Proceedings Latest time for conclusion
1 (A) Motion—'That this House approves the Government's policy towards the Treaty of Lisbon in respect of provisions concerning the following matters: asylum and migration policy.' 3 hours after commencement
(B) Committee on the Bill: any selected amendments to Clause 1 and the Question, That Clause 1 stand part of the Bill; any selected amendments to Clause 2 relating to the matters specified in paragraph (A). 3 hours after commencement
2 (A) Motion—'That this House approves the Government's policy towards the Treaty of Lisbon in respect of provisions concerning the following matters: fighting cross-border crime; justice; policing and human trafficking.' 3 hours after commencement
(B) Committee on the Bill—any selected amendments to Clause 2 relating to the matters specified in paragraph (A). 3 hours after commencement
3 (A) Motion—'That this House approves the Government's policy towards the Treaty of Lisbon in respect of provisions concerning energy.' 3 hours after commencement
(B) Committee on the Bill—any selected amendments to Clause 2 relating to energy. 3 hours after commencement
4 (A) Motion—'That this House approves the Government's policy towards the Treaty of Lisbon in respect of provisions concerning the economy, social security and public services.' 3 hours after commencement
(B) Committee on the Bill—any selected amendments to Clause 2 relating to the economy, social security and public services. 3 hours after commencement
5 (A) Motion—'That this House approves the Government's policy towards the Treaty of Lisbon in respect of provisions concerning human rights and the Charter of Fundamental Rights.' 3 hours after commencement
(B) Committee on the Bill—any selected amendments to Clause 2 relating to human rights and the Charter of Fundamental Rights. 3 hours after commencement
6 (A) Motion—'That this House approves the Government's policy towards the Treaty of Lisbon in respect of provisions concerning the single market.' 3 hours after commencement
(B) Committee on the Bill—any selected amendments to Clause 2 relating to the single market. 3 hours after commencement
7 (A) Motion—'That this House approves the Government's policy towards the Treaty of Lisbon in respect of provisions concerning foreign policy.' 3 hours after commencement
(B) Committee on the Bill—any selected amendments to Clause 2 relating to foreign policy. 3 hours after commencement
8 (A) Motion—'That this House approves the Government's policy towards the Treaty of Lisbon in respect of provisions concerning security and defence policy.' 3 hours after commencement
(B) Committee on the Bill—any selected amendments to Clause 2 relating to security and defence policy. 3 hours after commencement
9 (A) Motion—'That this House approves the Government's policy towards the Treaty of Lisbon in respect of provisions concerning international development.' 3 hours after commencement
(B) Committee on the Bill—any selected amendments to Clause 2 relating to international development. 3 hours after commencement
10 (A) Motion—'That this House approves the Government's policy towards the Treaty of Lisbon in respect of provisions concerning the effectiveness of the EU institutions and EU decision-making.' 3 hours after commencement
(B) Committee on the Bill—any selected amendments to Clause 2 relating to the matters specified in paragraph (A). 3 hours after commencement
11 (A) Motion—'That this House approves the Government's policy towards the Treaty of Lisbon in respect of provisions concerning the role and legal status of the EU institutions, including legal personality.' 3 hours after commencement
(B) Committee on the Bill—any selected amendments to Clause 2 relating to the matters specified in paragraph (A). 3 hours after commencement
12 (A) Motion—'That this House approves the Government's policy towards the Treaty of Lisbon in respect of provisions concerning the distribution of competencies between the EU institutions and Member States.' 3 hours after commencement
(B) Committee on the Bill—any selected amendments to Clause 2 relating to the matters specified in paragraph (A). 3 hours after commencement
13 (A) Motion—'That this House approves the Government's policy towards the Treaty of Lisbon in respect of provisions concerning national parliaments.' 3 hours after commencement
(B) Committee on the Bill—any selected amendments to Clause 2 relating to the matters specified in paragraph (A). 3 hours after commencement
14 (A) Motion—'That this House approves the Government's policy towards the Treaty of Lisbon in respect of provisions concerning climate change.' 3 hours after commencement
(B) Committee on the Bill—any selected amendments to Clause 2 relating to climate change, remaining amendments to Clause 2 and the Question, That Clause 2 stand part of the Bill. 3 hours after commencement
15 Committee on the Bill—Clauses 3 to 7.
16 Committee on the Bill—Clauses 3 to 7, so far as not completed on Allotted Day 15. The moment of interruption.
17 Committee on the Bill—Clause 8, the Schedule New Clauses and New Schedules. The moment of interruption.
18 Remaining proceedings on the Bill. 6 hours after commencement.'

The Foreign Secretary obviously decided that he would be too busy in Brussels to attend the debate today, and the Minister for Europe will now know why. The Foreign Secretary probably anticipated better than others the difficulty that would arise. Indeed, my hon. Friend Sir Patrick Cormack just made a valid point. The Minister has taken an hour and a half to respond to valid and legitimate interventions —and not only from Opposition Members—but the same time is meant to be allotted to the consideration of amendments on vast tracts of the Bill. He said that he would be sensitive to the will of the House and flexible on the time, and he should concede—although he will not—that the will of the House as represented by those hon. Members in their places today is that this motion should be withdrawn and replaced with one that shows greater consideration of the wishes of many hon. Members.