Mr Andrew Love (Edmonton, Labour/Co-operative)

On a point of order, Mr. Gale. I seek your guidance. First I declare an interest as one of the co-chairs of the all-party group on homelessness. I do so on behalf of the approximately 250 Members of Parliament who are members of that group. We have so far reached clause 3 and I understand the natural enthusiasm, if not exuberance, of other members of the Committee to explore all the nooks and crannies of the legislation. A motion passed by the House suggests that we must conclude the Bill by the beginning of February and that it should be taken in two equal halves. With the progress we have made to date, I fear that that the Committee cannot properly scrutinise and hold the Minister to account on part II. Can you reassure me about that?

Mr Nigel Waterson (Eastbourne, Conservative)

Further to that point of order, Mr. Gale.

Mr Roger Gale (North Thanet, Conservative)

Let me deal with the first point of order. If the hon. Member for Eastbourne (Mr. Waterson) still wishes to raise an issue after that, he may do so.

First, the programme resolution is in accordance with a motion that was passed by the House a few weeks ago. Secondly, while I appreciate that the hon. Member for Edmonton (Mr. Love) was not present at the sitting of the Programming Sub-Committee on Monday—although he could have been present as an observer—an end date was agreed but there was no decision on internal dates or timings. The hon. Gentleman was probably in the Room when we discussed this on Tuesday. I have made my ruling on this abundantly plain. I am prepared to listen to representations from the usual channels with a view to reconvening the Programming Sub-Committee if that becomes necessary. So far, no such approaches have been made. No fixed points have been determined within the sitting period. The expectation has been, and this is common knowledge to all hon. Members, that the first part of the Bill will be concluded on Tuesday, but that is a matter to be determined by hon. Members, not the Chair.

Mr Nigel Waterson (Eastbourne, Conservative)

Further to that point of order, Mr. Gale. I agree entirely with one point made by the hon. Member for Edmonton, not least as another member of the all-party group to which he referred. We believe that part II is also an important part of the Bill. The suggestion that the Bill should be completed in six sitting days has come from no other source but the Government, possibly with some agreement from the Liberal Democrats. We have consistently made a case for more time. We have put down markers that if there is significant slippage we could always return to the Programming Sub-Committee. There is no agreement, Mr. Gale and nor, to use your phrase, is there an expectation among Opposition Members. We think that part I is important too. If some hon. Members have signed up for this Committee with an interest in part II but little interest in part I, that is a matter for them. Millions of people are affected by part I—

Mr Roger Gale (North Thanet, Conservative)

Order. The hon. Gentleman is supposedly raising a point of order with the Chair, not making a speech.

Mr Nigel Waterson (Eastbourne, Conservative)

Those are the points that I wish to make. This is a complex Bill. Both parts are important and both deserve proper scrutiny. The solution is in the hands of the Government's business managers.

Mr David Curry (Skipton & Ripon, Conservative)

Further to that point of order, Mr. Gale. I am the other co-chair of the homelessness group. I took the Housing Act 1996, which is amended by part II of the Bill, through the House. For the record, it has 233 sections, 19 and 19 schedules and at no stage was a guillotine ever suggested or imposed.

Mr Roger Gale (North Thanet, Conservative)

First, the right hon. Gentleman has now pointed that out and it is on the record, but it is not a point of order for the chair. Secondly, I stand by the rulings I have given and the offer I have already made. I remain at the service of the Committee in general, and of the usual channels in particular, if they wish to discuss this with me further. Thirdly, I had better state clearly that, as is my custom when I the Chair, I have ensured that the debates so far have been entirely in order, and no one, so far as I am aware, has attempted to filibuster. Just in case anyone feels minded to do so, they should be aware that I would take a very dim view. Clause 3Duties of a responsible person where a property is on the market