Private Security Industry Bill [Lords]
9:55 am
Mr Charles Clarke (Minister of State, Home Office; Norwich South, Labour)
I beg to move
That—
(1) during proceedings on the Private Security Industry Bill [Lords] the Standing Committee do meet on Tuesday 10th April at five minutes to Ten o'clock and, from Tuesday 24th April, on Tuesdays at half-past Ten o'clock and half-past Four o'clock and on Thursdays at five minutes to Ten o'clock and half-past Two o'clock;
(2) 7 sittings in all shall be allotted to the consideration of the Bill by the Committee; and
(3) proceedings on the bill shall be brought to a conclusion at the seventh sitting at Seven o'clock.
I welcome you to the Chair, Mr. Winterton. Although I have not previously served under your chairmanship in a Committee of the House, I have served under your chairmanship in Westminster Hall. I am sure that every member will adopt the spirit in which you introduced the Committee's proceedings. The resolution of the Programming Sub-Committee is the first expression of that spirit, as it was agreed unanimously.
The motion proposes that there should be seven substantive sittings. However, there is an expectation that an eighth sitting might be necessary, although that is not a requirement. If an extra sitting is needed, it will be convened on a more convenient occasion than this afternoon. I reassert the commitment that I gave in the House concerning that extra sitting. If the Committee's discussions are as constructive as the Chairman predicted and if it transpires that there is not sufficient time to discuss substantive issues, the Government would be willing for the Programming Sub-Committee to reconvene to arrange further sittings. However, as we wish to conclude matters by 1 May, we would not support extra sittings if they were scheduled to take place after that date.
If the Opposition wish to debate the issues in a different order from that currently proposed, we would constructively consider any guidance that they might give to the Programming Sub-Committee about that.
I hope that the Committee will agree to the Programming Sub-Committee's resolution, as it provides for ample time to discuss the Bill.