TABLE Sitting Proceedings Time for conclusion of proceedings 1st Clause 1 and Clauses 17 and 18 5 p.m. 2nd Clause 16 and Clauses 2 to 6 — 3rd Clause 16 and Clauses 2 to 6 (so far as not previously concluded) 10 p.m. 4th Clauses 19 to 28 — 5th Clauses 19 to 28 (so far as not previously concluded) 5 p.m. 6th Clauses 14 and 15, Clauses 7 and 8, Schedule 1, Clauses 9 to 13 — 7th Clauses 24 and 15, Clauses 7 and 8, Schedule 1, Clauses 9 to 13 (so far as not previously concluded) 10 p.m. 8th Clauses 29 and 30, Schedule 2, Clauses 31 to 40, Schedule 3, Clause 41, Clause 69, Clauses 42 to 44 — 9th Clauses 29 and 30, Schedule 2, Clauses 31 to 40, Schedule 3, Clause 41, Clause 60, Clauses 42 to 44 (so far as not previously concluded) 5 p.m. 10th Clauses 45 to 58 — 11th Clauses 45 to 58 (so far as not previously concluded) 10 p.m. 12th Clause 59, Clauses 61 to 66, Schedules 4 and 5, new Clauses and new Schedules — 13th Clause 59, Clauses 61 to 66, Schedules 4 and 5, new Clauses and new Schedules (so far as not previously concluded) 5 p.m.
Health and Social Care Bill
2:30 pm
Mr Philip Hammond (Runnymede and Weybridge, Conservative)
The Minister shakes his head, but I understood him to say that material new information would be published within the next 24 hours that would inform the Committee's debate on Tuesday morning. I hope that some flexibility can be shown with respect to that.
Having stated my objections in principle to the timetabling arrangements—not just the deadline for the consideration of the Bill, but the fixed milestones within that deadline—and having expressed our concerns about the ability of the Committee properly to scrutinise legislation in those circumstances, we accept that the House has resolved to proceed in such a way. The timetable allocates the limited available time in the most sensible way, attempting to ensure that there is debate on key issues that are likely to be of great concern. However, I get the impression that the Government would not be unhappy for debate on certain parts of the Bill to be curtailed, just as the Prime Minister indicated in his response to my right hon. Friend the Member for Richmond, Yorks (Mr. Hague) that he was anxious to avoid proper debate wherever possible.
The composition of the Committee, which strikes me as rather extraordinary, makes me suspicious of the Government's motives. I was under the impression that the convention was that the membership of Committees was drawn, by and large, from hon. Members who contributed on Second Reading. For the information of the Government Whip, every single hon. Member on this side of the Committee spoke on Second Reading. With the honourable exception of the Minister, and of the Government Whip, who was unable to contribute on Second Reading, only one Labour Member—I think that I am right, and someone will bounce up and correct me if I am wrong—spoke on Second Reading.