TABLE Sitting Proceedings Time for conclusion of proceedings 1st Clauses 4 to 6, Schedule 1, Clauses 7 to 9, Schedule 2, Clauses 10 to 15, Schedule 3, Clauses 54 to 56 -- 2nd Clauses 4 to 6, Schedule 1, Clauses 7 to 9, Schedule 2, Clauses 10 to 15, Schedule 3, Clauses 54 to 56 (so far as not previously concluded) 7 p.m. 3rd Clause 57, Schedule 12, Clauses 58 to 61, Schedule 13, Clause 93, Clause 62, Schedule 14 1 p.m. 4th Clause 63, Schedule 15, Clause 64, Schedule 16, Clause 65, Schedule 17, Clause 66, Schedule 18 7 p.m. 5th Clause 67, Schedule 19, Clause 68, Schedule 20, Clause 69, Schedule 21, Clause 70, Schedules 22 and 23, Clause 71, Schedule 24, Clauses 72 and 73 11.25 a.m. 6th Clauses 74 and 75, Clause 104, Clause 76, Schedule 25, Clauses 77 and 78 7 p.m. 7th Clause 79, Schedule 26, Clauses 80 and 81, Schedule 27, Clause 82 1 p.m. 8th Clause 79, Schedule 26, Clauses 80 and 81, Schedule 27, Clause 82 (so far as not previously concluded) 7 p.m. 9th Clauses 83 to 85 11.25 a.m. 10th Clause 86, Schedule 28 7 p.m. 11th Clauses 87 to 89 1 p.m. 12th Clause 90, Schedule 29, Clauses 91 and 92, Clause 94 7 p.m. 13th Clauses 95 and 96 11.25 a.m. 14th Clause 97, Schedule 30, Clause 98 7 p.m. 15th Clause 99, Schedule 31, Clauses 100 to 103, Clause 105 1 p.m. 16th New Clauses, New Schedules, Clauses 106 and 107, Schedule 32, Clause 108 — 17th New Clauses, New Schedules, Clauses 106 and 107, Schedule 32, Clause 108 (so far as not previously concluded) — 18th New Clauses, New Schedules, Clauses 106 and 107, Schedule 32, Clause 108 (so far as not previously concluded) 7 p.m.
Finance Bill
9:30 am
Mr Edward Davey (Kingston and Surbiton, Liberal Democrat)
Continuing the theme of the hon. Member for West Dorset, I also believe that a spirit of self-sacrifice has brought you to this arduous task, Dr. Clark. You may well be pleased if our proceedings are cut short. Will you pass on our greetings to the other two Chairmen—Mr. O'Hara and Mr. Hood?
As the hon. Member for West Dorset said, there is little that is controversial in the Bill, and he fairly described it as boring. Some of the flaws in our procedures are worth noting. The Bill may be boring and relatively uncontroversial, but it is also complex, and we have little time to find the problems lurking within the complexities.
Problems that the parliamentary draftsmen have not foreseen may escape our attention because we are debating a long Finance Bill—particularly in comparison with the Finance Bills of the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s. In the short time available, we may fail to pick up the problems. I regret any failings and apologise to those who may be affected by them. It is less a failing of our abilities than of the whole process. I have long felt that it is a key and urgent task for this House to reform that process and I hope that the Government will give it serious thought. Let us hope that whoever is returned to power after the forthcoming election, will also give serious thought to reforming it.